A misdemeanor (American English) or misdemeanour (British English) is any " lesser" criminal act 

Although a misdemeanor may be viewed as less serious than other types of crimes, there is often little distinction when it comes to criminal records for background checks.

While a misdemeanor refers to a specific type of crime, it is still labeled as a crime according to the United States legal system. A crime is a breach of law which can result in prosecution