misdeed
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of misdeed
before 900; Middle English misdede, Old English misdǣd. See mis- 1, deed
Explanation
A misdeed is a type of bad behavior, especially behavior that's immoral. If you get caught stealing someone’s lunch, you’ll be punished for your misdeed. A deed is an action, and a misdeed is a specific type of action. It’s one that's wicked, unethical, illegal, or just plain wrong. It’s the opposite of a good deed. Cheating on a test is a misdeed. So is cheating on your spouse. Stealing is a misdeed, as is any other crime. Politicians get caught in scandals when their misdeeds are discovered, such as lying or taking bribes. It’s from the Old English misdæd for "sin, evil.”
Vocabulary lists containing misdeed
Boy: Tales of Childhood
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"The Hero’s Journey" and "Myths and Legends"
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"Is 16 Too Young to Drive a Car?" by Robert Davis
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Taaf suggested that I might want to offer up an apology for my life", King wrote, "but an apology assumes a crime, an offence, a misdeed".
From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025
I scanned my memory for every possible misdeed.
From Washington Post • May 13, 2022
Corporate chieftains and politicians frequently bow deeply to the news cameras to apologize for this corporate scandal or that political misdeed.
From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2021
“Normally, we use law enforcement investigative tools like subpoenas to investigate known crimes,” he said, not to fish around for a certain individual’s secret misdeed.
From Slate • May 12, 2020
No more teachers were denounced directly, but two or three were made to stand up in assembly and apologize for this or that misdeed.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
