Misdemeanor

A minor crime (as opposed to a felony). A crime - less serious than a felony - which is punishable by fine or imprisonment in a city or county jail rather than in a penitentiary.

This term is used to express every offence inferior to felony, punishable by indictment, or by particular prescribed proceedings; in its usual acceptation, it is applied to all those crimes and offences for which the law has not provided a particular name; this word is generally used in contradistinction to felony; misdemeanors comprehending all indictable offences, which do not amount to felony, as perjury, battery, libels, conspiracies and public nuisances.

Misdemeanors have sometimes been called misprisions.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.

(USA) A crime of lesser seriousness than a felony where the punishment might be a fine or prison for less than one year. - (read more on Misdemeanor)
  

A class of criminal offenses less serious than felonies andsanctioned by less severe penalties.