Felony — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈfe-lə-nē/ fel·o·ny

Meaning & Definition of Felony

Felony (noun)

  1. a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment
  2. a grave crime (such as murder or rape) declared to be a felony by the common law or by statute regardless of the punishment actually imposed
  3. a crime declared a felony by statute because of the punishment imposed

Felony (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a serious criminal act (such as murder or rape)

    "The crime is considered a felony under state law."

    "He was convicted of committing a felony."

    similar: misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance, breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, offense, sin, transgression, trespass, violation, wrongdoing, bias crime, hate crime, fault, foible, peccadillo, break, infringement, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, sinfulness, vice, wickedness, corruption, debauchery, depravity, licentiousness, abuse, criminality, illegality, lawlessness, unlawfulness, descent, downfall, fall
    opposite: noncrime, blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocence, irreproachability, goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue, virtuousness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Felony

The most common words with a similar meaning to Felony:

misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance, breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, offense, sin, transgression, trespass, violation, wrongdoing, bias crime, hate crime, fault, foible, peccadillo, break, infringement, immorality, iniquitousness, iniquity, sinfulness, vice, wickedness, corruption, debauchery, depravity, licentiousness, abuse, criminality, illegality, lawlessness, unlawfulness, descent

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Felony

Words with the opposite meaning of Felony:

noncrime, blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocence, irreproachability, goodness, morality, righteousness, virtue, virtuousness

Word Forms of Felony

Inflections: felonies

Origin & Etymology of Felony

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Felony

Frequently Asked Questions about Felony

What does "Felony" mean?

"Felony" means a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment. As a noun, it is defined as: a grave crime formerly differing from a misdemeanor under English common law by involving forfeiture in addition to any other punishment.

What is another word for "Felony"?

Other words for "Felony" include misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance, breach, crime, debt, error and lawbreaking. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Felony" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Felony"?

There are 42 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Felony". Common alternatives include misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance, breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction and misdeed.

What is the opposite of "Felony"?

Antonyms of "Felony" include noncrime, blamelessness, faultlessness, guiltlessness, impeccability, innocence, irreproachability and goodness.

How do you use "Felony" in a sentence?

Examples of "Felony" in a sentence: "The crime is considered a felony under state law."; "He was convicted of committing a felony.".

Is "Felony" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Felony" is a noun.

Is "Felony" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Felony" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Felony"?

"Felony" is pronounced /ˈfe-lə-nē/ and divided into syllables as fel·o·ny.