felony
Americannoun
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an offense, as murder or burglary, of graver character than those called misdemeanors, especially those commonly punished in the U.S. by imprisonment for more than a year.
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Early English Law. any crime punishable by death or mutilation and forfeiture of lands and goods.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of felony
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English felonie, from Anglo-French, Old French: “villainy”; equivalent to felon 1 + -y 3
Explanation
A felony is a serious crime, like murder, arson, or burglary. Fashion critics may think that wearing white shoes after Labor Day is a felony, but it isn’t really. A felony is sometimes called a "high crime" because it's so serious. A felony differs from a misdemeanor in the amount of punishment someone gets when convicted. In the United States, a felony is a crime that has a sentence of more than a year in prison. A year or less in jail means the crime is just a misdemeanor. If you're convicted of a felony, even after you serve your time you may be denied certain rights and privileges.
Vocabulary lists containing felony
Monster
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Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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Speak
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Felony murder allows for an incredibly broad net of culpability, yet it is law in most states.
From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026
Felony charges against Ramos-Brito and two related defendants, Ashley and Joceline Rodriguez, were also dismissed, though prosecutors refiled misdemeanor cases against them.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 23, 2025
The Felony Traffic Unit of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case to determine whether to bring charges, and a decision is expected in July, spokesperson Casey McNerthney said Tuesday.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2023
"The Gambia government this afternoon charged eight soldiers of the Gambia Armed Forces with two counts of Treason and Felony Conspiracy to Commit Treason," the statement said.
From Reuters • Jan. 6, 2023
Richardson, C.J. de C.B. at Assizes at Salisbury in Summer 1631 fuit assault per Prisoner la condemne pur Felony; que puis son condemnation ject un Brickbat a le dit Justice, que narrowly mist.
From Notes and Queries, Number 53, November 2, 1850 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
