/ ˈfeləni; NAmE / noun
[ C , U ] ( pl. -ies ) ( NAmE or old-fashioned , law ) the act of committing a serious crime such as murder or rape ; a crime of this type :
a charge of felony
—compare misdemeanour
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French felonie , from felon wicked, a wicked person (oblique case of fel evil), from medieval Latin fello , fellon- , of unknown origin.