felon

1 of 2

noun

fel·​on ˈfe-lən 

1

: one who has committed a felony

2

archaic : villain

3

: a painful abscess of the deep tissues of the palmar surface of the fingertip that is typically caused by bacterial infection (as with a staphylococcus) and is marked by swelling and pain compare whitlow sense 1

felon

2 of 2

adjective

1

archaic

a

: cruel

b

: evil

2

archaic : wild

Examples of felon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Herrera-Mondello also was convicted of vehicle theft, three counts of shooting at an inhabited home and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 21 May 2024

In Florida, where Trump lives and has voted since 2020, a felon's eligibility to vote depends on the laws of the state where the conviction occurred—in this instance, New York, which only revokes a felon's voting rights while they are incarcerated. —Nik Popli, TIME, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French felun, fel evildoer, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fillen to beat, whip, fel skin — more at fell

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

felon

noun

fel·​on

ˈfel-ən

: criminal entry 2

especially : one who has committed a felony

Etymology

Noun

Middle English felon "one who has committed a felony," from early French felon "villain, evildoer," of Germanic origin — related to fell entry 3

Medical Definition

felon

noun

fel·​on

: a painful abscess of the deep tissues of the palmar surface of the fingertip that is typically caused by infection of a bacterium (such as Staphylococcus aureus) and is marked by swelling and pain compare paronychia, whitlow sense 1

Legal Definition

felon

noun

fel·​on ˈfe-lən 

: one who has committed a felony

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French felon, fel, literally, evildoer, from Old French, probably of Germanic origin