Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "misdemeanor" (wani lokaci ana rubuta "misdemeanour" a cikin Ingilishi na Ingilishi) ƙaramin laifi ne ko laifi, yawanci wanda bai kai babban laifi ba. A cikin sharuɗɗan shari'a, laifin aikata laifi laifi ne wanda za'a iya hukunta shi ta hanyar tara, ɗaurin ɗan gajeren lokaci, ko duka biyun. Misalan munanan ayyuka sun haɗa da ƙaramar sata, rashin ɗabi'a, hari mai sauƙi, da wasu keta haddi. Laifukan da ba su dace ba yawanci ba su da tsanani fiye da manyan laifuffuka, waɗanda suka fi manyan laifuffuka waɗanda ke ɗaukar tsauraran hukunci kamar ɗauri na dogon lokaci ko hukuncin kisa.