Also spelled misdemeanour
noun
Freq #19478
Meanings
-
1
noun
A minor crime that is punished less severely than a serious one.
Shoplifting a small item is usually treated as a misdemeanor.
-
2
noun
An act of bad behaviour or wrongdoing.
The students were scolded for their minor misdemeanors.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From mis- + demeanor.