felony

fel·o·ny

noun \ˈfe-lə-nē\

plural fel·o·nies

Definition of FELONY

1

: an act on the part of a feudal vassal involving the forfeiture of his fee

2

a : a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment b : a grave crime declared to be a felony by the common law or by statute regardless of the punishment actually imposed c : a crime declared a felony by statute because of the punishment imposed d : a crime for which the punishment in federal law may be death or imprisonment for more than one year

Examples of FELONY

1. The crime is considered a felony under state law.
2. He was convicted of felony murder.

First Known Use of FELONY

14th century

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi