misdemeanor

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

mis- + demeanor

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnə(ɹ)/
  • Hyphenation: mis‧de‧mean‧or

Noun

misdemeanor (plural misdemeanors) (US)

  1. (law) A crime usually punishable upon conviction by a small fine or by a short term of imprisonment. In the USA, misdemeanants usually are incarcerated in county jail for less than one year, but felons usually are incarcerated in state prison for more than one year. Crimes which are punishable by large fines or by longer imprisonment are sometimes called felonies.

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