misdemeanor
n. countablen. a crime that is not very serious, like a small theft or a traffic rule break. It is less serious than a major crime like a felony.
n. a criminal offence considered less serious than a felony, typically punishable by a fine or a short term of imprisonment in a local jail. Often used in legal contexts to distinguish minor infractions from grave crimes.
The shoplifter was charged with a misdemeanor.
While a felony can lead to years in prison, a misdemeanor usually results in community service or a fine.
Legal scholars argue that the classification of certain non-violent acts as a misdemeanor rather than a civil infraction places an undue burden on the judicial system.
From mis- + demeanor.
Commonly used in American legal English; the British equivalent is often 'summary offence'.
he committed a felony misdemeanorhe committed a misdemeanorA misdemeanor and a felony are mutually exclusive categories of crime; a single act cannot be both.