misdemeanor

especially British, mis·de·mean·our

[mis-di-mee-ner]

noun

1. Law.,  a criminal offense defined as less serious than a felony.

2. an instance of misbehavior; misdeed.

misdemeanor

1. A minor crime, punishable by a fine or a light jail term. Common misdemeanors, such as traffic violations, are usually dealt with informally, without a trial. (Compare felony.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of misdemeanor¹

First recorded in 1480–90; mis- ¹ + demeanor

Example Sentences

Sanchez is being charged with a level five felony of battery involving serious bodily injury and three misdemeanors — battery resulting in injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.

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After a preliminary probable cause affidavit was filed by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on Saturday, Sanchez was charged with three misdemeanors — battery resulting in injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.

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A fourth was charged with felony assault, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal threats, while a fifth was charged with misdemeanor threats and misdemeanor battery.

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Attorney Gabe Banks said in a statement that Gibson voluntarily turned himself “to answer for a misdemeanor warrant.”

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In a recent case, a federal jury acquitted Brayan Ramos-Brito of misdemeanor assault charges after evidence shown in court contradicted what Border Patrol agents had reported to justify his prosecution.

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Related Words

• offense 
• transgression 
• violation