Felony vs. Misdemeanor — What's the Difference?

A felony is traditionally considered a crime of high seriousness, whereas a misdemeanor is regarded as less serious. The term "felony" originated from English common law (from the French medieval word "félonie") to describe an offense that resulted in the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods, to which additional punishments including capital punishment could be added; other crimes were called misdemeanors.

A misdemeanor (American English, spelled misdemeanour in British English) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than more serious felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions (also known as minor, petty, or summary offences) and regulatory offences.

One of several serious crimes, such as murder, rape, or robbery, punishable by a more stringent sentence than that given for a misdemeanor.

A misdeed.

Any of several crimes in early English law that were punishable by forfeiture of land or goods and by capital or other serious punishment.

(Law) A criminal offense that is less serious than a felony and generally punishable by a fine, a jail term of up to a year, or both.

A serious criminal offense, which, under United States federal law, is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year or by death.

(legal) A crime usually punishable upon conviction by a small fine or by a short term of imprisonment. In the USA, misdemeanants usually are incarcerated in county jail for less than one year, but felons usually are incarcerated in state or federal prison for more than one year. Crimes which are punishable by large fines or by longer imprisonment are sometimes called felonies.

An act on the part of the vassal which cost him his fee by forfeiture.

Any act of misbehavior.

An offense which occasions a total forfeiture either lands or goods, or both, at the common law, and to which capital or other punishment may be added, according to the degree of guilt.

Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault.

A serious crime (such as murder or arson)

A crime less than a felony.

A crime less serious than a felony