misdemeanor

mis·de·mean·or   (mĭs'dĭ-mē'nər)    n.   A misdeed. Law A criminal offense that is less serious than a felony and generally punishable by a fine, a jail term of up to a year, or both.

Misdemeanor

Mis`de*mean"or\, n. 1. Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault. --Shak.

2. (Law) A crime less than a felony. --Wharton.

Note: As a rule, in the old English law, offenses capitally punishable were felonies; all other indictable offenses were misdemeanors. In common usage, the word crime is employed to denote the offenses of a deeper and more atrocious dye, while small faults and omissions of less consequence are comprised under the gentler name of misdemeanors. --Blackstone. The distinction, however, between felonies and misdemeanors is purely arbitrary, and is in most jurisdictions either abrogated or so far reduced as to be without practical value. Cf. Felony. --Wharton.

Syn: Misdeed; misconduct; misbehavior; fault; trespass; transgression.

misdemeanor [(mis-di-mee-nuhr)]

A minor crime, punishable by a fine or a light jail term. Common misdemeanors, such as traffic violations, are usually dealt with informally, without a trial. (Compare felony.)

misdemeanor 

Main Entry: mis·de·mean·or
Pronunciation: "mis-di-'mE-n&r
Function: noun
: a crime that carries a less severe punishment than a felony; specifically : a crime punishable by a fine and by a term of imprisonment not to be served in a penitentiary and not to exceed one year —compare FELONY