A serious crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is punishable under law by death or imprisonment for more than one year. Murder, rape, treason, kidnapping, arson and burglary are all considered felonies under U.S. federal law. The definition of a felony varies from state to state. Besides death or imprisonment for longer than a year, possible punishments for a felony include losing citizenship, which among other things takes away a person’s right to vote, and deportation for aliens.