misdemeanant

American  

[mis-di-mee-nuhnt] / ˌmɪs dɪˈmi nənt /

noun

1. a person who is guilty of misbehavior.

2. Law. a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor.

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misdemeanant British  

/ ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnənt /

noun

1. criminal law (formerly) a person who has committed or been convicted of a misdemeanour Compare felon 1

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Etymology

Origin of misdemeanant

First recorded in 1810–20; misdemean + -ant

Example Sentences

Mazzocco is the 10th misdemeanant to be sentenced, along with one felon, and the fourth to be sentenced to jail time.

From Washington Post

Because the common law rule did not give police the same degree of authority when minor infractions were at issue, Justice Kagan concluded that, absent a showing of exigency, “when the officer has time to get a warrant, he must do so—even though the misdemeanant fled.”

From Slate

“The flight of a suspected misdemeanant does not always justify a warrantless entry into a home,” she wrote.

From New York Times

“An officer must consider all the circumstances in a pursuit case to determine whether there is a law enforcement emergency. On many occasions, the officer will have good reason to enter — to prevent imminent harms of violence, destruction of evidence or escape from the home. But when the officer has time to get a warrant, he must do so — even though the misdemeanant fled.”

From New York Times

“But the need to pursue a misdemeanant does not trigger a categorical rule allowing home entry … When the nature of the crime, the nature of the flight, and surrounding facts present no such exigency, officers must respect the sanctity of the home — which means that they must get a warrant.”

From Washington Post