Misdemeanor is any violation of the law which is less serious than a felony. Assault and battery, the theft of a small sum of money, and other such acts against public safety and welfare, are misdemeanors. So are most traffic offenses. Not all courts draw the same line between misdemeanors and felonies. A felony in one court may be a misdemeanor in another. People guilty of misdemeanors are usually fined or given a short jail sentence. See also Felony .
