felony

== English == === Alternative forms === fellonie === Etymology === From Middle English felony, felonie, from Old French felonie (“evil, immoral deed”), from felon (“evildoer”). Ultimately of Proto-Germanic origin. More at felon. By surface analysis, felon +‎ -y. === Pronunciation === enPR: fĕ'lə-nē, IPA(key): /ˈfɛləni/ Rhymes: -ɛləni === Noun === felony (plural felonies) (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 ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== felon felonious felonize ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== misdemeanor (less serious crime)