misdemeanor
noun
Jessica Portner
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What is meant by 'crimes and misdemeanors'?
Misdemeanor comes from demeanor, which means “behavior toward others” or “outward manner” (as in “his quiet demeanor”), itself derived from the verb demean, which means “to conduct or behave (oneself) usually in a proper manner”—not to be confused with the other and much more common verb demean that means “to lower in character, status, or reputation” (as in “I won’t demean myself by working for so little money”). These two verbs are spelled the same way but come from different roots.
Therefore, misdemeanor literally means “bad behavior toward others.” This led to parallel usage as both general bad behavior and legal bad behavior. In American law, a misdemeanor is “a crime less serious than a felony.” A felony is defined as “a federal crime for which the punishment may be death or imprisonment for more than a year.” As misdemeanor became more specific, crime became the more general term for any legal offense.
The phrase “high crimes and misdemeanors,” found in Article Two, Section 4 of the Constitution, has been used in English law since the 14th century, as have other fixed phrases using synonymous terms, such as “rules and regulations” and “emoluments and salaries.” It can be very difficult to distinguish between any of these pairs of words, and their frequent use together renders them less technical in today’s highly specific legal vocabulary. “High crimes” are serious crimes committed by those with some office or rank, and was used in the language describing impeachment proceedings of members of the British Parliament in the 18th century.
Examples of misdemeanor in a Sentence
Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
The former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver pleaded guilty to one count of DUI resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in May 2023.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 18 June 2025
Restitution payments were a standard component of Justice Department sentencing recommendations in Jan. 6 cases, with $2,000 payments sought from felony defendants and $500 payments sought for misdemeanor defendants.
—June 17, CBS News, 17 June 2025
Maximum penalties for grand theft range from a year in jail and a fine up to $1,000 for a misdemeanor conviction or up to three years in state prison and a $10,000 fine for a felony conviction, the law firm said.
—Fernanda Galan, Sacbee.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for misdemeanor
Cite this Entry
“Misdemeanor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misdemeanor. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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misdemeanor
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