A felony is a category of crimes that are considered the most serious types of offenses. The term "felony" originated from English common law to describe an offense that resulted in the confiscation of a convicted persons land and goods, to which additional punishments including capital punishment could be added. In the United States, felonies are generally crimes that have a potential punishment of over a year of incarceration. A person who has been charged and convicted of a felony offense is referred to as a "felon".

Unlike misdemeanors, felonies have severe long-term consequences that can hinder those convicted in the future. These consequences include losing voting rights, being barred from jury duty, losing professional licenses, and having difficulty obtaining jobs and housing. A felony conviction will remain on a persons criminal record for the rest of their life, making it difficult to find a job, gain custody rights over children, and can take away the right to vote in elections.

The most common types of felonies in the United States include crimes against people and property such as murder, rape, robbery, burglary, and arson. Felonies can be classified as violent or nonviolent, with violent felonies typically having an element of force or threats of force against a person.

It is important to note that a felony charge does not make an accused individual a felon. They would not be considered a felon unless they have been tried and convicted as well.