What does felony mean?
A felony is the most serious category of crime in many legal systems, especially that of the United States, distinguished from lesser offenses called misdemeanors by the severity of its punishment. Crimes classified as felonies — such as murder, robbery, arson, and large-scale fraud — generally carry penalties of more than one year in prison, substantial fines, or, in some jurisdictions, capital punishment. A felony conviction carries lasting consequences beyond the sentence itself, including loss of voting rights in some states, restrictions on firearm ownership, and difficulty securing employment. The word derives from medieval English law, where felonies were grave crimes forfeiting a wrongdoer's land and goods to the crown. Though England formally abandoned the felony–misdemeanor distinction in the twentieth century, the term remains central to American legal language and everyday discourse about crime and justice.
nounA serious crime, typically punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death, as distinct from a lesser offense known as a misdemeanor.
- A grave criminal offense, typically one punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or, historically, by death, as distinguished from a misdemeanor.
"He was convicted of a felony and sentenced to five years in state prison."
"The district attorney charged him with a felony for the armed robbery."
"Because shoplifting involved goods worth more than the statutory threshold, it was elevated from a misdemeanor to a felony."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple serious crimes or charges.
"He faced three separate felonies stemming from the same incident."
In medieval England, committing a 'felony' could cost you everything you owned — and your life. The word literally traces back to a Latin term for betrayal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of felony
The word "felony" entered Middle English via Old French "felonie," deriving from "felon" meaning a wicked person or traitor. Its ultimate origin is debated but is commonly traced to Medieval Latin "felonia" and possibly Frankish roots related to treachery or deceit. In medieval English law, a felony was a grave offense for which the perpetrator forfeited lands and goods and could face death. Cognate forms appear in French "félonie" and related Romance-language terms.
Related word forms
How felony is actually used
"Felony" is primarily a legal term used in American law and other common-law systems; modern English law abolished the felony/misdemeanor distinction in 1967, replacing it with arrestable offenses. In casual American speech it often carries strong connotations of serious wrongdoing. The classification of specific crimes as felonies varies by jurisdiction.
Easily confused with felony
A misdemeanor is a lesser crime punishable by fines or short jail time, whereas a felony is a serious offense carrying heavier penalties such as over a year of imprisonment.
A felon is a person who has been convicted of a felony — the crime itself versus the individual who committed it.