Standard Lemma guide

felonize

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈfɛlənaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To classify a crime as a felony.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • January 2015 The War on Drugs Is Burning Out Rolling Stone Prop 47 also de-felonized nonviolent theft of less than $950.
  • May 2018 Medical Marijuana Not a State Crime on College Campuses, AZ Supreme Court Rules Phoenix New Times That law, pushed by university officials and cannabis prohibitionists, re-felonized marijuana on college campuses for medical patients.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To classify a person as a felon.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • June 2018 California Experience Drove Principal to Teach Rio Grande Sun Archuleta tells his most difficult students that they will be principals one day. “They look at me like, ‘Huh? You’re crazy,’” he said. “A lot of me really feels it. Because I’m them. It was fortunate that my activism didn’t get me felonized, because I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.” He believes his life is a credit to Jesus.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From felony + -ize.