misdemeanor

[mis-di-mee-ner]

noun

Law. a criminal offense defined as less serious than a felony.
an instance of misbehavior; misdeed.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for misdemeanour

Historical Examples of misdemeanour

For this misdemeanour they were confined to barracks at Hamilton.
Adventures and Recollections
Bill o'th' Hoylus End
Brenchfield tried to turn her to the seriousness of her misdemeanour.
The Spoilers of the Valley
Robert Watson
You cannot make economy a crime, progress a misdemeanour, or efficiency a felony!
The Root of Evil
Thomas Dixon
I told him there would not be any fear of misdemeanour of that kind with me.
A Sheaf of Corn
Mary E. Mann
She is very handsome; that is misdemeanour number one, I believe.'
Lover or Friend
Rosa Nouchette Carey

British Dictionary definitions for misdemeanour

misdemeanour

US misdemeanor

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.

misdemeanour in Culture

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.)