disorderly conduct

noun

: a petty offense chiefly against public order and decency that falls short of an indictable misdemeanor

Examples of disorderly conduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The aide was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct/being under the influence of alcohol, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Parr said. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2024

The witness said her minor children were asking questions about what the subjects were doing. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Razo and Westfield were both charged with trespassing and breach of the peace: disorderly conduct. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 29 May 2024

The municipal tickets — for violating ordinances such as vaping, truancy and disorderly conduct — are difficult to fight and often come with fines and administrative fees that can reach hundreds of dollars. —Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublica, 22 May 2024

Through the investigation, reporters documented 12,000 tickets Illinois students received over nearly three years for violations, including possession of vaping devices, disorderly conduct and truancy. —Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

disorderly conduct

noun

dis·​or·​der·​ly conduct

: conduct that is likely to lead to a disturbance of the public peace or that offends public decency

also : the petty offense of engaging in disorderly conduct compare breach of the peace

Note: The term disorderly conduct is used in statutes to identify various acts against the public peace. It has been held to include the use of obscene language in public, the blocking of public ways, and the making of threats. A statute must identify acts that constitute disorderly conduct with sufficient clarity in order to avoid being held unconstitutional because of vagueness.