In countries where the legal system distinguishes between very serious crimes and less serious ones, a felony is a very serious crime such as armed robbery.
[law]
He pleaded guilty to six felonies.
Synonyms: crime, offence, misdemeanour, transgression More Synonyms of felony
felony in British English
(ˈfɛlənɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-nies
(formerly) a serious crime, such as murder or arson. All distinctions between felony and misdemeanour were abolished in England and Wales in 1967
felony in American English
(ˈfɛləni)
nounWord forms: pluralˈfelonies
a major crime, as murder, arson, or rape, for which statute usually provides a greater punishment than for a misdemeanor: the usual minimum penalty is imprisonment for one year
Word origin
ME felonie < OFr < ML felonia, treason, treachery < felo, felon1
Examples of 'felony' in a sentence
felony
Only recently two men pleaded guilty to federal felony charges for sending him personal threats.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And if you do you will be arrested and face felony charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has been charged with burglary and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Twelve jurors convicted you guilty of three felony counts beyond reasonable doubt.
The Sun (2016)
A large number of felony crime convictions do not end up with the person going to prison.
Christianity Today (2000)
A charge could be brought as a felony or misdemeanour.
The Sun (2011)
The company admitted 14 felony charges.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He appeared in court last week, having pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing explosives and preparing to commit a felony.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Also, it will tell them if you have any felony convictions, such as drunk driving.
Hopkins, Tom The Guide to Greatness in Sales (1994)
Crime is a felony.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I have to declare that I have no felony or drug convictions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Word lists with
felony
Criminal law terms
In other languages
felony
British English: felony NOUN
In countries where the legal system distinguishes between very serious crimes and less serious ones, a felony is a very serious crime such as armed robbery.
He pleaded guilty to six felonies.
American English: felony
Brazilian Portuguese: crime
Chinese: 重罪
European Spanish: delito grave
French: crime
German: Schwerverbrechen
Italian: delitto
Japanese: 重罪
Korean: 중죄
European Portuguese: crime
Latin American Spanish: delito grave
Chinese translation of 'felony'
felony
(ˈfɛlənɪ) (Law)
n(c)
重罪 (zhòngzuì)
(noun)
Definition
(formerly) a serious crime, such as murder or arson
He pleaded guilty to six felonies.
Synonyms
crime
He has committed no crime and poses no danger to the public.
offence
It is a criminal offence to sell goods which are unsafe.
misdemeanour
I knew nothing about my partner's misdemeanours.
transgression
tales of the candidate's alleged past transgressions
job (informal)
wrong
I intend to right the wrong done to you.
fault
Hypocrisy is one fault of which he cannot be accused.
outrage
The terrorists' latest outrage is a bomb attack on a busy station.
atrocity
Those who committed this atrocity should be punished.
violation
This is a flagrant violation of state law.
trespass
Forgive us our trespasses.
misdeed
the alleged financial misdeeds of his government
unlawful act
malfeasance
cybercrime
e-crime or ecrime
Additional synonyms
in the sense of atrocity
Definition
an act of extreme cruelty
Those who committed this atrocity should be punished.
Synonyms
act of cruelty,
wrong,
crime,
horror,
offence,
evil,
outrage,
cruelty,
brutality,
obscenity,
wrongdoing,
enormity,
monstrosity,
transgression,
abomination,
barbarity,
villainy
in the sense of fault
Definition
a defect or failing
Hypocrisy is one fault of which he cannot be accused.