misdemean: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-frequency, formal/literaryFormal, literary, legal
Quick answer
What does “misdemean” mean?
to behave badly or improperly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to behave badly or improperly; to lower oneself in dignity or character.
Often used reflexively ('to misdemean oneself') to describe acting in a way that diminishes one's own dignity or social standing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British legal/formal contexts. In American English, largely archaic or highly formal.
Connotations
British: Formal, sometimes legalistic. American: Archaic, literary.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, but slightly more attested in British corpus.
Grammar
How to Use “misdemean” in a Sentence
[Subject] misdemeaned [Reflexive Pronoun] (by doing something)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misdemean” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The barrister argued the witness had misdemeaned himself by accepting bribes.
- A member of the nobility would never misdemean themselves in such a public manner.
American English
- The historical account described how the official misdemeaned himself and was dismissed.
- It is a tragedy to see a person of promise misdemean themselves through addiction.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in formal ethical codes: 'No executive should misdemean themselves through corrupt dealings.'
Academic
Rare, mostly in historical or legal studies discussing conduct.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Occurs in formal legal language, particularly older texts concerning misconduct.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misdemean”
- Using it non-reflexively (e.g., 'He misdemeaned the office' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with the more common 'demean'.
- Using in informal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Demean' is more common and means to lower in dignity or status, often used transitively ('He demeaned his opponent'). 'Misdemean' is almost always reflexive and emphasizes improper or unworthy behavior.
Very rarely, and only in archaic or highly specific legal contexts. In modern usage, it is almost exclusively reflexive.
The related noun is 'misdemeanor' (US) / 'misdemeanour' (UK), which refers to a minor crime or an instance of bad behavior. Note the spelling difference.
No, it is considered a low-frequency, formal word. Learners are much more likely to encounter 'misbehave', 'act improperly', or 'demean'.
to behave badly or improperly.
Misdemean is usually formal, literary, legal in register.
Misdemean: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsdəˈmin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to misdemean oneself”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MIS' (wrong) + 'DEMEAN' (to lower in dignity) = to lower yourself wrongly.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONDUCT IS A POSITION ON A SOCIAL/MORAL SCALE (to misdemean is to lower one's position).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'misdemean' used correctly?