felon

1 of 2

noun

fel·​on ˈfe-lən How to pronounce felon (audio)
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 sense 1

felon

2 of 2

adjective

1
archaic
a
: cruel
b
: evil
2
archaic : wild

Examples of felon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Detectives can pull video from the gun store and review evidence for a potential arrest for charges such as being a felon in possession of a firearm, violating a restraining order or violating terms of bail, the inspector said. Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 6 Dec. 2024 In most cases, those who do make these crossings face civil penalties, or removal, but they are rarely prosecuted as felons. Dan Gooding, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
And despite a ban on felon possession of weapons, law enforcement searches of his Upper Peninsula home on Jan. 19 turned up a Russian SKS rifle, two shotguns, a Glock pistol and more than 100 rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said. Washington Post, 28 July 2021 One was to turn most of the felon population over to the U.S. government. Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2021 See all Example Sentences for felon 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of felon was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near felon

Cite this Entry

“Felon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/felon. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

felon

noun
fel·​on
ˈfel-ən
: criminal entry 2
especially : one who has committed a felony
Etymology

Noun

Middle English felon "one who has committed a felony," from early French felon "villain, evildoer," of Germanic origin — related to fell entry 3

Medical Definition

felon

noun
fel·​on
: 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 sense 1

Legal Definition

felon

noun
fel·​on ˈfe-lən How to pronounce felon (audio)
: one who has committed a felony
Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French felon, fel, literally, evildoer, from Old French, probably of Germanic origin

More from Merriam-Webster on felon

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