felon

1 of 2

noun

fel·​on ˈfe-lən 

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

Noun

Demarco Ransom, 35, was sentenced in late February to four years in prison and three years supervised release, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

In a separate federal criminal investigation, Manning allegedly purchased seven firearms that were later sold to a confidential informant, who was known to be a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024

The next time law enforcement resources are needlessly wasted in this manner, the offender will be forever labeled a felon. —Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024

New Mexico State Police issued an arrest warrant for Smith, of Marion, South Carolina, on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, shooting at or from a vehicle, tampering with evidence, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful taking of a vehicle, and criminal damage to property. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 16 Mar. 2024

Ignacio had allegedly been drafted as a straw owner by an Oklahoma City accountant, a 20-time felon named Kevin Pham, who has been charged in connection with the Kingfisher farm and other grows, court documents say. —Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024

Jesse Martinez, 38, of Antioch was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, methamphetamine possession and evading officers. —Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024

The jury further ruled Bryant guilty of possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. —Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 20 Mar. 2024

Are felons eligible for medical marijuana in Kentucky? —Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 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

Before its passing, Florida had a 150-year ban on felon voting. —Mica Soellner, Washington Examiner, 20 Oct. 2020

The state sent the felon memo to the 67 county election supervisors this week, but did not distribute it publicly. —Terry Spencer, Star Tribune, 16 Oct. 2020

Just this week, Florida’s Department of State published guidance on ex-felon voting eligibility. —Rachel Glickhouse, ProPublica, 14 Aug. 2020

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia filed a brief asking an appeals court to rule against the state in its ex-felon voting case. —Rachel Glickhouse, ProPublica, 7 Aug. 2020

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

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 

: one who has committed a felony

Etymology

Noun

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