In general, a felony can be defined as any criminal offense that results in a prison of one year or longer. They tend to be crimes that involve an element of violence and are considered harmful or dangerous to society. In the United States, a felony is a crime that is punishable by death or more than one year in prison. [5] Under common law, felonies were crimes punishable by either death, forfeiture of property, or both. A felony is a serious crime that can be punished by one or more years in prison. Learn more about the meaning, usage and examples of felony in English, American and Business contexts. The term Felony is a core concept under economy. Get to know the definition of Felony, what it is, the advantages, and the latest trends here.