'Misdemeanor' definitions:

Definition of 'misdemeanor'

From: WordNet
noun
A crime less serious than a felony [syn: misdemeanor, misdemeanour, infraction, violation, infringement]

Definition of 'Misdemeanor'

From: GCIDE
  • Misdemeanor \Mis`de*mean"or\, n.
  • 1. Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Law) A crime less than a felony. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Misdeed; misconduct; misbehavior; fault; trespass; transgression. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'misdemeanor'

From: Moby Thesaurus