1. A very bad person who has been convicted of a serious criminal act which might be punishable by death in some countries or states: The convicted felon was imprisoned for 10 years before his case was reviewed.
2. Those who have committed a more serious crime than those designated as misdemeanors; for example, aggravated assault as contrasted with a simple assault or a misdemeanor: Although the man was convicted as a felon, he protested his innocence.