How is a "felony" defined in legal terms?

A felony is defined as a serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. This definition reflects the severity of felonies in the legal system, as they typically involve significant harm or threat to individuals or society and carry more severe penalties compared to lesser offenses, such as misdemeanors.

Felonies can include serious offenses such as murder, robbery, or drug trafficking, and they often result in lasting consequences for the individual convicted, such as loss of certain civil rights, difficulty finding employment, and other social stigmas. The classification of crimes into felonies and misdemeanors helps the legal system to address the seriousness of offenses appropriately, ensuring that the punishment fits the nature of the crime.