1
: one who has committed a felony
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
Examples of felon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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He was also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a weapon and ammunition.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Jesus Flores, 42, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in December, according to court records.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025
And despite a ban on felon possession of weapons, law enforcement searches of his Upper Peninsula home on Jan. 19 turned up a Russian SKS rifle, two shotguns, a Glock pistol and more than 100 rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said.
—Washington Post, 28 July 2021
One was to turn most of the felon population over to the U.S. government.
—Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2021
See All Example Sentences for felon
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of felon was in the 13th century
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Cite this Entry
“Felon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https:///dictionary/felon. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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