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fel·o·ny /'fe-lə-nē/ n pl -nies: a crime that has a greater punishment imposed by statute than that imposed on a misdemeanor; specif: a federal crime for which the punishment may be death or imprisonment for more than a year see also attainder, treason◇ Originally in English law a felony was a crime for which the perpetrator would suffer forfeiture of all real and personal property as well as whatever sentence was imposed. Under U.S. law, there is no forfeiture of all of the felon's property (real or personal) and such forfeiture is not part of the definition of a felony. For certain crimes, however (as for a conviction under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act or a narcotics law), specific property, such as that used in or gained by the crime, is subject to forfeiture. Every state has its own statutory definition of a felony. Most are in line with the federal definition of a felony as a crime which carries a sentence of imprisonment for more than one year or the death penalty (where applicable). Other states, like Louisiana, define a felony as a crime which carries a sentence of death or imprisonment at hard labor.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam-Webster. 1996.
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I
noun
capital crime, crime graver than a misdemeanor, criminal activity, criminal offense, gross offense, heinous crime, heinous misconduct, illegality, indictable offense, misdeed punishable by imprisonment, offense, offense punishable by imprisonment, transgression, violation of law, wrongdoing
associated concepts: assault with intent to commit felony, capital felony, common law felony, compounding a felony, felonious intent, felony conviction, felony murder, substantive felony
foreign phrases:
- Felonia, ex vi termini significat quodiibet caphale crimen felleo animo perpetratum. — Felony by force of the term, signifies any capital crime perpetrated with a criminal mind.- Felonia implicatur in qualibet proditione. — Felony is implied in every treasonII index burglary, crime, delict, homicide, housebreaking, misdeed, offense
Burton's Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006
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n.A serious crime; most felonies are defined by statute, and often include those that are punishable by death or by more than one year of imprisonment.adj.felonious See also misdemeanor
The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.
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a now archaic term of English law for crimes that by statute or by common law carried the death sentence and forfeiture on conviction. See misdemeanour. In some US states this still denotes more serious imprisonable crimes.
Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001.
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A serious crime (contrasted with less serious crimes such as misdemeanors and infractions), usually punishable by a prison term of more than one year or, in some cases, by death. For example, murder, extortion, and kidnapping are felonies; a minor fist fight is usually charged as a misdemeanor, and a speeding ticket is generally an infraction. In some states, certain crimes (known as wobblers) may be charged as both a misdemeanor and a felony, and the eventual designation depends on the defendant's ability to fulfill the conditions of his sentence. (See also: wobbler)Category: Criminal LawCategory: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits
Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. Gerald N. Hill, Kathleen Thompson Hill. 2009.
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n. A grave or serious form of crime, typically punishable by imprisonment for more than a year, as opposed to a misdemeanor.
Webster's New World Law Dictionary. Susan Ellis Wild. 2000.
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A serious crime, characterized under federal law and many state statutes as any offense punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year.
Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.
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A serious crime, characterized under federal law and many state statutes as any offense punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year.II A serious criminal offense. Under federal law any offense punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.
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n.1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishable by death or a term in state or federal prison, as distinguished from a misdemeanor which is only punishable by confinement to county or local jail and/or a fine.2) a crime carrying a minimum term of one year or more in state prison, since a year or less can be served in county jail. However, a sentence upon conviction for a felony may sometimes be less than one year at the discretion of the judge and within limits set by statute. Felonies are sometimes referred to as "high crimes" as described in the U.S. Constitution.
Law dictionary. EdwART. 2013.
