felon

¹ American  

[fel-uhn] / ˈfɛl ən /

noun

1. Law. a person who has been convicted of a felony, such as grand theft, kidnapping, or murder.

2. Archaic. a wicked person.

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adjective

1. Archaic. wicked; malicious; treacherous.

felon ² American  

[fel-uhn] / ˈfɛl ən /

noun

1. an acute and painful inflammation of the deeper tissues of a finger or toe, usually near the nail: a form of whitlow.

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felon ¹ British  

/ ˈfɛlən /

noun

1. criminal law (formerly) a person who has committed a felony

2. obsolete a wicked person

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adjective

1. archaic evil; cruel

felon ² British  

/ ˈfɛlən /

noun

1. a purulent inflammation of the end joint of a finger, sometimes affecting the bone

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Sensitive Note

Terms such as felon, convict, inmate, and offender can be dehumanizing to people in the criminal justice system. The stigma of these categories often follows people after their release from prison, and contributes to difficulty reintegrating into society. Because of this, it is often better to use language that centers the specific experiences of a person or group, rather than using a label: People who have been incarcerated may have problems accessing quality healthcare, rather than Felons may have problems accessing quality healthcare. Some individuals who have been imprisoned or convicted of a crime, however, might use these labels to describe themselves. It is always best to respect a person's self-designation when referring to them.

Etymology

Origin of felon¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fel(o)un “wicked, wicked person, evildoer,” from Old French fel (nominative), felun (oblique) “wicked person, traitor,” from Medieval Latin fellon- , stem of fello “villain, evildoer”; further etymology uncertain

Origin of felon²

1375–1425; late Middle English felo ( u ) n < Medieval Latin fellōn- (stem of fellō ) scrofulous tumor, of uncertain origin

Explanation

Technically, a felon is anyone who's been convicted of a serious crime, but you can use felon to describe anyone you think has done something terrible. For a felon, it's being paraded in handcuffs in front of the public that can be the worst part of being convicted. In some countries, you're considered a felon simply because the king says that you are. Here in the U.S., though, you're innocent until proven guilty, at which point people can call you a felon. My boyfriend took the dog, the TV, and my expensive French sauté pan after we broke up. If you ever run into the felon, please kick him in the shins, and tell him he's a criminal.

Example Sentences

He said federal immigration agents would be required to have judicial warrants before entering homes or businesses unless they were pursuing a known felon.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Good was not a violent felon trying to flee the scene of a crime.

From Slate • Jan. 15, 2026

“I’m gonna be a felon for branding my own cattle. I literally could not sleep.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

His abductors, authorities charge, included a felon with ties to Israeli organized crime and a former officer from the Los Angeles Police Department.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025

A keynote speaker was Charles W. Colson, the born-again Watergate felon turned evangelical thinker.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• convict
• delinquent
• lawbreaker
• offender