felony

fel-o-ny · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A serious crime, typically punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death.

  2. 2.

    (historical) In feudal law, a crime against one's feudal lord.

Forms

plural: felonies

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    felony conviction — A guilty verdict for a serious crime
  • •
    commit a felony — To carry out a serious criminal act
  • •
    felony charge — An accusation of a serious crime
  • •
    felony murder — A killing that occurs during the commission of another felony

Related words

Antonyms: misdemeanor
See also: crime, felon, misdemeanor
Synonyms: indictable offense, major offense, serious crime

Etymology

From Old French felonie ("wickedness, treachery, crime"), from felon ("wicked, villain"). In medieval law, the term originally referred to a betrayal of the feudal bond between lord and vassal.