felony murder rule

noun

A legal doctrine according to which, regardless of intent, when someone is killed in the commission of a felony, the offender as well as his accomplices and/or co-conspirators are guilty of murder.

“The Commonwealth of Kentucky abolished its felony murder rule decades ago, but many other states still have theirs on the books.”

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Meanings

nounfelony murder rule (uncountable)

alternative rule of felony murder

  1. uncountablelawA legal doctrine according to which, regardless of intent, when someone is killed in the commission of a felony, the offender as well as his accomplices and/or co-conspirators are guilty of murder.

    The Commonwealth of Kentucky abolished its felony murder rule decades ago, but many other states still have theirs on the books.

Cite this entry
APA

felony murder rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/felony%20murder%20rule

MLA

“felony murder rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/felony%20murder%20rule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “felony murder rule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/felony%20murder%20rule.

Source: felony murder rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.