misdemeanor
miss-deh-MEE-ner
/ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnər/
A minor wrongdoing; a non-indictable offense, less serious than a felony.
In the US legal system, it is an offense punishable by less than a year in jail (usually served in a local facility rather than a prison).
The story behind the word. The word literally means 'bad behavior.' It comes from 'mis-' (wrongly) and 'demeanor' (conduct). For centuries, it was used for any bad act, but it eventually became a specific legal category for 'medium-sized' crimes.
Word relationships
- infraction: An infraction is even less serious than a misdemeanor (like a speeding ticket).
- felony: A felony is a serious crime, whereas a misdemeanor is a minor one.
Commonly confused with
- felony: Felonies carry heavier penalties (prison); misdemeanors carry lighter ones (jail/fines).
Word family
- demeanor (noun): Outward behavior or bearing.
Collocations
- class A misdemeanor
- commit a misdemeanor
- misdemeanor charge
Example sentences
- "Shoplifting a small item is usually classified as a misdemeanor rather than a felony." Legal classification.
- "His latest misdemeanor was forgetting his wife's birthday, which landed him in the 'doghouse.'" General usage.
Memory hook
A 'mis-demeanor' is just 'bad' (mis) 'behavior' (demeanor). Bad behavior, but not the worst.
When not to use
Do not use for serious crimes like armed robbery or murder; those are 'felonies.'
Fun facts
- In some states, 'high misdemeanors' exist, which blur the line between a misdemeanor and a felony.
Related words
Explore more words
misconduct, malfeasance, embezzlement, fraud, extenuation, punitive
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