Word forms: plural misdemeanoursregional note: in AM, use misdemeanor
1. countable noun
A misdemeanour is an act that some people consider to be wrong or unacceptable.
[formal]
Emily knew nothing about her husband's misdemeanours.
...his financial misdemeanours.
Synonyms: offence, misconduct, infringement, trespass More Synonyms of misdemeanour
2. countable noun
In the United States and other countries where the legal system distinguishes between very serious crimes and less serious ones, a misdemeanour is a less serious crime.
[law]
She was charged with a misdemeanour, that of carrying a concealed weapon.
misdemeanour in British English
or US misdemeanor (ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnə)
noun
1. criminal law
(formerly) an offence generally less heinous than a felony and which until 1967 involved a different form of trial
Compare felony
2.
any minor offence or transgression
Examples of 'misdemeanour' in a sentence
misdemeanour
There are too many people serving short spells for crimes such as minor financial misdemeanours.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You may already have heard the worst of his crimes and misdemeanours.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The misdemeanour offence carries a maximum jail term of a year.
The Sun (2009)
They will also be targeted for minor misdemeanours such as littering.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The solutions to online crimes and misdemeanours will not be devised by my generation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Tens of thousands of drivers will be able to avoid penalty points for minor misdemeanours under plans being drawn up by police.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
First you have to be certain of your facts about this woman's past misdemeanours.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Taking trivial misdemeanours for political crimes - it could be a definition of liberal democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As his successes at the game grow, so his past misdemeanours will fade.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In city traffic, a minor misdemeanour has to occur sometimes for common sense reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A charge could be brought as a felony or misdemeanour.
The Sun (2011)
I ask if he was at all nervous about detailing past crimes and misdemeanours.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I understand his misdemeanours included serious breaches of discipline such as when to return to the team hotel.
The Sun (2010)
High crimes and misdemeanours indeed.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She also made claims against officers, who she says were not suspended for more serious misdemeanours than the accusation against her.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His reputation, already tarnished from past misdemeanours, was shredded beyond repair.
The Sun (2012)
Word lists with
misdemeanour
Criminal law terms
In other languages
misdemeanour
British English: misdemeanour NOUN
A misdemeanour is an act that some people consider to be wrong or unacceptable.
She knew nothing about her husband's misdemeanours.
American English: misdemeanor
Brazilian Portuguese: contravenção
Chinese: 行为不端
European Spanish: delito
French: écart de conduite
German: Vergehen
Italian: misfatto
Japanese: 不品行
Korean: 비행
European Portuguese: contravenção
Latin American Spanish: delito
(noun)
Definition
a minor wrongdoing
I knew nothing about my partner's misdemeanours.
Synonyms
offence
It is a criminal offence to sell goods which are unsafe.
misconduct
He was dismissed from his job for gross misconduct.
infringement
infringement of privacy
trespass
Forgive us our trespasses.
misdeed
the alleged financial misdeeds of his government
transgression
tales of the candidate's alleged past transgressions
misbehaviour
This child's misbehaviour could have been avoided.
peccadillo
the peccadillos of the governing elite
Additional synonyms
in the sense of infringement
infringement of privacy
Synonyms
contravention,
breach,
violation,
trespass,
transgression,
infraction,
noncompliance,
nonobservance
in the sense of misbehaviour
This child's misbehaviour could have been avoided.
Synonyms
misconduct,
mischief,
misdemeanour,
shenanigans (informal),
impropriety,
acting up (informal),
bad behaviour,
misdeeds,
rudeness,
indiscipline,
insubordination,
naughtiness,
monkey business (informal),
incivility
in the sense of misconduct
Definition
behaviour, such as adultery or professional negligence, that is regarded as immoral or unethical
He was dismissed from his job for gross misconduct.
Synonyms
immorality,
wrongdoing,
mismanagement,
malpractice,
misdemeanour,
delinquency,
impropriety,
transgression,
misbehaviour,
dereliction,
naughtiness,
malfeasance,
unethical behaviour,
malversation (rare)
Synonyms of 'misdemeanour'
misdemeanour
Explore 'misdemeanour' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of misdeed
Definition
an evil or illegal action
the alleged financial misdeeds of his government
Synonyms
offence,
wrong,
crime,
fault,
sin,
misconduct,
trespass,
misdemeanour,
transgression,
villainy
in the sense of peccadillo
Definition
a trivial misdeed
the peccadillos of the governing elite
Synonyms
misdeed,
slip,
error,
lapse,
indiscretion,
misdemeanour,
infraction,
petty sin,
trifling fault
in the sense of transgression
tales of the candidate's alleged past transgressions