Felonious Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Felonious, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Felonious?

adj. An act performed with criminal intent. Used to differentiate between a malicious wrong and an intentional crime.

History and Meaning of Felonious

The term felonious is derived from the word "felony", which is a serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment or death. Felonious is an adjective used to describe an act that is intentionally criminal in nature or committed with criminal intent. Felonious typically differentiates between malicious behavior and criminal activity, which is a legal distinction used in the United States and other common law jurisdictions.

Examples of Felonious

  1. The suspect was charged with felonious assault for attacking the victim with a deadly weapon.
  2. The defendant was found guilty of felonious embezzlement for stealing funds from the company.
  3. Felonious trespassing occurs when an individual intentionally enters a property without permission and with the intent to commit a crime.
  4. The prosecutor argued that the defendant's temper tantrum was a felonious act of domestic violence.
  5. Felonious theft is a serious crime that involves the theft of property with a high dollar value.

Legal Terms Similar to Felonious

  1. Misdemeanor - a minor offense that is punishable by a fine or short-term imprisonment.
  2. Criminal intent - the mental state of an individual when committing a crime in which an individual has the intention to commit an act that is illegal.
  3. Malicious intent - a deliberate intention to cause harm or injury to another individual or their property.
  4. Aggravated assault - a serious form of assault that involves the use of a deadly weapon or the intent to cause severe bodily harm.
  5. Capital offense - a serious criminal act that is punishable by the death penalty.