felony

• fellonie

From Middle English felony, felonie, from Old French felonie (“evil, immoral deed”), from felon (“evildoer”). Ultimately of Proto-Germanic origin. More at felon.

• enPR: fĕ'lə-nē, IPA^(key): /ˈfɛ.lə.ni/

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felony (plural felonies)

1. (law, criminology, US, historical in UK) A serious criminal offense, which, under United States federal law, is punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one year or by the death penalty in the most serious offenses.

   Coordinate term: misdemeanor

• felon
• felonious
• felonize

• misdemeanor (less serious crime)