noun
felony
FEH-luh-nee
noun
1
A serious crime, typically punishable by at least a year in prison, as opposed to a lesser misdemeanor.
"Burglary is charged as a felony in most states."
How to Use Felony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe most serious category of crime in US law, above misdemeanors — things like murder, rape, and grand theft.
UK vs US
The felony/misdemeanor split is central to US law; the UK instead classifies crimes as summary, either-way, or indictable offences.
Common pairings
charged with a felony
a felony conviction
commit a felony
Word Forms
felonies plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “felony”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Burglary is charged as a _____ in most states.
Etymology
From Old French felonie ("wickedness, evil deed"), from felon ("evildoer").