# felon

/ˈfɛɫən/ (US) · /fˈɛlən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/felon
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a person who has been found guilty of a serious crime. In many places, being called this means the crime was more severe than a minor mistake.

For teachers: a person convicted of a serious crime, typically one punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. Often carries significant legal and social consequences, such as the loss of certain civil rights.

## Examples

- The convicted felon served five years in prison.
- After his release, the former felon struggled to find a job that did not require a clean criminal record.
- The legislation aims to restore voting rights to non-violent felons who have successfully completed their parole and integrated back into their local communities.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in legal and journalistic contexts; often preceded by 'convicted' for emphasis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.