felony

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'felony' is correct and usable in written English.
It is a noun that describes a serious crime, such as murder or robbery, that is punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year. For example, "The thief was convicted of a felony and sentenced to 10 years in prison."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So he drew up a code of conduct: he wouldn't accept anyone who was under investigation or had been convicted of a felony violent crime, or a felony fraud crime, or any sexually violent crime, or anyone accused – even informally – of a sexual crime against children.

The Guardian - Tech

Knight pled not guilty to four felony counts, and was then hospitalised after complaining about chest pains.

The Guardian - Music

He is accused of leaking classified information, has been charged with three felony counts, and should be returned to the United States, where he will be afforded full due process".

The Guardian

While he was president, the rate of black incarceration grew exponentially thanks to his "three strikes and you're out" law, which established mandatory life sentences for those convicted of a third felony and other "tough on crime" policies lead.

The Guardian - Opinion

A felony warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The Guardian

His ambitions this time around – which he is set to outline at a campaign launch rally in Texas – are complicated by felony charges that are likely to linger in the background as an unwelcome distraction throughout the summer.

The Guardian

The next day, in an unrelated incident, a 25-year-old man from Florida was arrested on felony stalking charges after he climbed on to a third-floor balcony of Bristol Palin, the family's eldest daughter said to have a good right hook.

The Guardian

Lee was taken to a Colfax hospital for treatment of minor injuries before he was booked into the Whitman County Jail on a charge of felony eluding.

The Guardian

The rapper recently pleaded no contest to felony, gun and drug charges in a US court and was sentenced to five years probation and 800 hours of community service.

The Guardian

Between 1986 and 1997, average prison sentences (in federal prisons) increased from 39 months to 54 months.California's "three strikes" rule, which enforced a prison sentence for anybody caught committing a third felony (no matter how small), drove more into prison.

The Economist

If Mr Perry is to stand a chance this election season, he must overcome not only an indictment on two counts of felony abuse of power, but his popular image as a swaggering airhead.Which brings us to the subject of Mr Perry's eyeglasses.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal matters, ensure you accurately distinguish between a "felony" and a misdemeanor to avoid misrepresenting the severity of the crime.

Common error

Avoid using "felony" and misdemeanor interchangeably. A "felony" is a serious crime punishable by imprisonment for more than a year, while a misdemeanor is a less severe offense.

Linguistic Context

The word "felony" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a serious criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death. Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "felony" is a noun denoting a serious crime punishable by significant imprisonment or death. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically sound and widely used. As Ludwig examples show, "felony" appears most frequently in news and formal business contexts. When discussing legal matters, ensure the term is accurately distinguished from lesser offenses like misdemeanors. Alternatives such as "serious crime" or "major offense" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felonious act

Uses an adjective form to describe the action.

serious crime

Focuses on the severity of the offense.

major offense

Emphasizes the significance of the violation.

grave violation

Highlights the seriousness and impact of the transgression.

criminal act

A general term for any illegal action.

indictable offense

Specifies that the crime is serious enough to warrant an indictment.

capital crime

Refers to a crime punishable by death.

heinous crime

Emphasizes the shockingly evil nature of the act.

high crime

Signifies a grave offense, often used in impeachment contexts.

criminal wrongdoing

Highlights the aspect of unethical or illegal behavior.

FAQs

How is "felony" used in a sentence?

You can use "felony" to describe a serious crime. For example, "The defendant was charged with a "felony" after being caught stealing a car."

What's the difference between a "felony" and a misdemeanor?

A "felony" is a serious crime typically punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, while a misdemeanor is a less serious offense, often resulting in fines or short jail terms.

Are there different types of "felonies"?

Yes, "felonies" are often categorized by severity, such as Class A, B, or C "felonies", each carrying different potential penalties.

What are some alternatives to using the word "felony"?

Depending on the context, you might use "serious crime" or "major offense" as alternatives to "felony".