noun
felon
FEH-luhn
noun
1
Someone convicted of a felony — a serious crime.
"As a convicted felon, he lost his right to vote in that state."
2
A painful infection near a fingernail or toenail.
"The doctor lanced the felon to relieve the pressure."
How to Use Felon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly, a person convicted of a serious crime like murder or armed robbery, as opposed to a lesser misdemeanor.
Common pairings
convicted felon
a felon in possession of a firearm
Word Forms
felons plural, felons plural
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As a convicted _____, he lost his right to vote in that state.
Etymology
From Old French felon ("evil, wicked"), from Medieval Latin fellonem, of uncertain deeper origin. It shares a root with "fell" in the sense of "cruel, fierce."