felon

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noun fel·on \ ˈfe-lən \

Definition of felon

1 :one who has committed a felony

2 archaic :villain

3 :a painful abscess of the deep tissues of the palmar surface of the fingertip that is typically caused by bacterial infection (as with a staphylococcus) and is marked by swelling and pain — compare whitlow

See felon defined for English-language learners

See felon defined for kids

Recent Examples of felon from the Web

Strenger pleaded guilty later that year to possession of a weapon by a felon.

— jeremy gorner, chicagotribune.com, "Parolee charged with attempted murder in shooting at Red Line station in Loop," 30 Aug. 2017
President Obama used it to effectively rewrite Congress’s narcotics statutes, for the benefit of drug felons and in circumvention of his duty to execute the laws faithfully.

— the editors, National Review, "A Bad Pardon," 28 Aug. 2017
Kristin found about 20 employers in Fort Smith that hired felons.

— author: sabrina tavernise, Alaska Dispatch News, "At an Arkansas mosque, a vandal spreads hate and finds mercy," 26 Aug. 2017
Among those who testified were a heroin addict who injected drugs in the campsite where Brandow was killed and a felon who slept in the same area, under the Highway 99 freeway overpass near Broadway and Alhambra boulevards.

— cynthia hubert, sacbee, "He murdered homeless woman, jury finds. He could go to prison for life.," 1 Aug. 2017
He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon after he was taken into custody several weeks later.

— clifford ward, Wheaton Glen Ellyn, "Man being held in DuPage County jail is accused of slashing throat of fellow inmate," 3 July 2017
Voters do not register by political party in Michigan and felons are not banned from voting in Michigan.

— paul egan, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan to partly comply with presidential voter data request," 3 July 2017
She is charged with money laundering and hindering the apprehension of a felon and has been free on bond since January 2016.

— ryan osborne, star-telegram, "Judge declines to revoke Tonya Couch’s bond but warns her to ‘use common sense’," 29 June 2017
Each of the 11 inmates were charged with simple escape, inciting a felon and, inciting a riot.

— emily lane, NOLA.com, "7 more inmates charged with 'inciting a riot' after March disturbance at Orleans jail," 14 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'felon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of felon

Middle English, from Anglo-French felun, fel evildoer, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fillen to beat, whip, fel skin — more at fell

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

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

felon

adjective

Definition of felon

1 archaic

a :cruel

b :evil

2 archaic :wild

First Known Use of felon

13th century

FELON Defined for English Language Learners

felon

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noun

Definition of felon for English Language Learners

: a criminal who has committed a serious crime (called a felony)

FELON Defined for Kids

felon

play

noun fel·on \ ˈfe-lən \

Definition of felon for Students

:²criminal

Medical Dictionary

felon

noun fel·on

medical Definition of felon

:a painful abscess of the deep tissues of the palmar surface of the fingertip that is typically caused by infection of a bacterium (such as Staphylococcus aureus) and is marked by swelling and pain — compare paronychia, whitlow 1