Misdemeanor
/ˌmɪs.dəˈmiː.nɚ/noun
A minor criminal offense, less serious than a felony.
Did you know?Misdemeanor entered English through Anglo-French legal language, where it was built from roots meaning “bad” + “to conduct oneself,” turning morality into a formal legal category.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
mĕdēri
“to conduct oneself; to behave”
Old French
Old French
mesdevenir / mesdemeanour
“to behave badly; bad conduct”
Middle English
English
misdemenour
“bad conduct, wrongdoing”
14th-15th Century
Law French / English
misdemeanor
“a minor offense or wrongful act”
Modern English
English
misdemeanor
“a minor criminal offense”
Explore more surprising origins