Felony and Misdemeanour Split American Crime in Two
A felon is someone convicted of a serious crime. The felony category still governs American law but was abolished in Britain in 1967.
A felon is a person convicted of a serious crime. The word carries real legal weight in the United States, where crimes split into *felonies* and *misdemeanours*, and a felony conviction can cost someone the right to vote or hold certain jobs for life. England and Wales abolished the distinction in 1967, replacing it with *arrestable* and later *indictable* offences, so a British newspaper calling someone a felon is being loose. A felon is also, confusingly, an infected finger.
- A serious criminal. *A convicted felon.*
- Felony — the crime category. *Charged with a felony.*
- Misdemeanour — the lesser category. *A misdemeanour.*
- Felonious — criminal. *Felonious intent.*
- A whitlow — an infected fingertip. *A painful felon.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | felon | A felon. |
| Plural | felons | Two felons. |
| Noun | felony | A felony. |
| Adjective | felonious | Felonious assault. |
| Latin | fello | A villain. |
- He was convicted as a felon in 2011.American law.
- England abolished felony in 1967.Legal history.
- A felon can also mean an infected finger.Medical.
Felony versus misdemeanour
- Felony — serious, generally punishable by more than a year in prison
- Misdemeanour — lesser, usually under a year
- Infraction — minor, often a fine only
- Consequences — a felony can remove voting rights in some states
- Britain — uses indictable and summary offences instead
Old French *felon*, a wicked person, from Medieval Latin *fello*, of uncertain origin, possibly Frankish.
Is felony a British legal term?
Not any more. England and Wales abolished the category in 1967 and now use indictable and summary offences.
Why does felon also mean a sore finger?
It is a separate medical use, also called a whitlow, for a painful infection at the fingertip.