misdemeanour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “misdemeanour” mean?
A minor wrongdoing or offence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A minor wrongdoing or offence; a crime less serious than a felony.
Used figuratively to describe a minor act of misbehavior or a trivial fault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English consistently spells it 'misdemeanour'. American English spells it 'misdemeanor'. In US law, the term has a more specific legal classification.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in British everyday use than in American, where it is almost exclusively legal. In British figurative use, it can sound humorous or mildly arch.
Frequency
Higher frequency in legal contexts in both varieties. More likely to appear in general British media than American.
Grammar
How to Use “misdemeanour” in a Sentence
commit [a] misdemeanourbe guilty of [a] misdemeanourbe charged with [a] misdemeanoura misdemeanour [such as...]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misdemeanour” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was not charged, as his actions did not misdemeanour under the new statute. (Rare/archaic)
American English
- (The verb form 'to misdemean' is obsolete and not used.)
adverb
British English
- (No adverbial form in use.)
American English
- (No adverbial form in use.)
adjective
British English
- The misdemeanour law was clarified by the court. (Attributive use)
American English
- He faced misdemeanor charges. (Attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might refer to minor regulatory breaches or code of conduct violations.
Academic
Used in legal, criminology, and sociology papers discussing crime classification.
Everyday
Used humorously or lightly to describe a minor social faux pas or rule-breaking.
Technical
A specific category of crime in common law jurisdictions, punishable by less than a year's imprisonment.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “misdemeanour”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misdemeanour”
- Misspelling as 'misdemeanor' in British contexts or 'misdemeanour' in American formal legal contexts.
- Using it to describe very serious crimes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A misdemeanour is a less serious crime, typically punishable by fines, probation, community service, or less than a year in jail. A felony is a serious crime with heavier penalties, usually imprisonment for over a year.
Yes, it's commonly used figuratively and humorously in everyday language to describe a minor misbehavior or social mistake.
Both are correct. 'Misdemeanour' is standard British English spelling. 'Misdemeanor' is standard American English spelling.
A 'misdemeanant' is a person convicted of a misdemeanour. This term is more common in historical or formal legal contexts.
A minor wrongdoing or offence.
Misdemeanour is usually formal in register.
Misdemeanour: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪsdɪˈmiːnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mere misdemeanour (used to downplay an action)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MIS (wrongly) + DEMEANOUR (behavior) = wrong behavior.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRONGDOING IS A STAIN/BRUISE (a minor one).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'misdemeanour' LEAST likely to be used correctly?