(law) A crime usually punishable upon conviction by a small fine or by a short term of imprisonment. In the USA, misdemeanants usually are incarcerated in county jail for less than one year, but felons usually are incarcerated in state or federal prison for more than one year. Crimes which are punishable by large fines or by longer imprisonment are sometimes called felonies.

plural of misdemeanor

(transitive, very rare) To reclassify (an offense) as a misdemeanor.

Of, relating to, being, or having the quality of a misdemeanor.

The act of making a previously non-misdemeanor activity a misdemeanor

simple past tense and past participle of misdemeanorize