Meaning & use
misdemeanour
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A criminal offense considered less serious than a felony, typically punishable by a fine or a short jail term.
See it in a sentence
He was charged with a misdemeanour for shoplifting a small item.
Unlike felonies, most misdemeanours do not result in long prison sentences.
A note on using this word
This is the British spelling; American English drops the 'u' to write 'misdemeanor.'
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