Main Entry:

fel·o·ny

Pronunciation:

\ˈfe-lə-nē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural fel·o·nies

Date:

14th century

1: an act on the part of a feudal vassal involving the forfeiture of his fee2 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