misdemeanor

[ mis-di-mee-ner ]

/ ˌmɪs dɪˈmi nər /

noun

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

an instance of misbehavior; misdeed.

Nearby words

Also especially British, mis·de·mean·our.

Origin of misdemeanor

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for misdemeanour

But there would be no misdemeanour unless the father claimed payment.
The Eight Strokes of the Clock|Maurice Le Blanc
Do you find the defendants, or any of them, guilty of the misdemeanour whereof they are impeached, or not guilty?
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
You cannot make economy a crime, progress a misdemeanour, or efficiency a felony!
The Root of Evil|Thomas Dixon
In the first place, let loafing of every kind, and not merely the loafing of the casual pauper, be made a misdemeanour.
The Vagrancy Problem.|William Harbutt Dawson

Hearing of Caroline's misdemeanour, however, Louisa's eyes rolled aloft in a paroxysm of tribulation.
Evan Harrington, Complete|George Meredith

British Dictionary definitions for misdemeanour

misdemeanour

US misdemeanor

/ (ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnə) /

noun

criminal law (formerly) an offence generally less heinous than a felony and which until 1967 involved a different form of trialCompare felony

any minor offence or transgression

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for misdemeanour

misdemeanor

also misdemeanour, "legal class of indictable offenses," late 15c.; from mis- (1) "wrong" + Middle English demenure (see demeanor). Related: Misdemeanors; misdemeanours.

Culture definitions for misdemeanour

misdemeanor

[ (mis-di-mee-nuhr) ]

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.)