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

Benicia Knapps, 33, had been charged with murder, armed robbery, child endangerment and being a felon in possession of a firearm in the April 18, 2023, death of Blake Mohs, 26. —Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024

The spectacle was a vivid reminder of the proceeding’s unprecedented nature: A courthouse accustomed to cycling through trials of murderers, fraudsters and felons of all types now had its first former president. —Ben Protess, New York Times, 22 Apr. 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