felon

noun fel·on \ ˈfe-lən \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

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 1

See felon defined for English-language learners

See felon defined for kids

Recent Examples of felon from the Web

Gomez was in custody on suspicion of probation violation and being a felon in possession of tear gas and a leaded cane, Williams said.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Inmate who died at Vista jail ID'd," 13 July 2018
The largest increase was in simple possession cases: prosecutions of felons, convicted domestic abusers, and others caught with firearms they were legally prohibited from owning.

— kevin d. williamson, WSJ, "The Unjust Prosecution of a Black Militia Kook," 6 July 2018
Odoms is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

— tresa baldas, Detroit Free Press, "Feds: Ex-con used Detroit Land Bank house as drug den," 2 July 2018
Thousands of felons like Williams earn parole or finish their sentences every year in the United States.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "Kurtis Williams and 'a Baltimore thing'," 15 June 2018
Terry McAuliffe to restore voting rights to thousands of felons.

— alex pappas, Fox News, "Pedophile can run for Congress, thanks to McAuliffe decision restoring felons' rights," 1 June 2018
News of the death comes just weeks after a pair of teenage felons escaped from a TJJD facility between Austin and Houston, only to be captured less than a day later.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "16-year-old inmate dies at Texas youth prison," 19 May 2018
Only a single felon survives, along with his daughter, who was born on the spaceship.

— alice gregory, The New Yorker, "The Fearless Cinema of Claire Denis," 19 May 2018
There was a Blaine Cooper, a felon who was one of the first people to arrive at the refuge, and encouraged people to bring their guns.

— leah sottile, Longreads, "Bundyville Chapter One: A War in the Desert," 15 May 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

FELON Defined for English Language Learners

felon

noun

Definition of felon for English Language Learners

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

FELON Defined for Kids

felon

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