Definition of misprision. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 a : neglect or wrong performance of official duty. b : concealment of treason or felony by one who is not a participant in the treason or felony. c : seditious conduct against the government or the courts. 2 : misunderstanding, misinterpretation.

early 15c., in law, "wrong action; a failure, offense or illegal act," especially on the part of a public official, from Anglo-French misprisoun, mesprisioun "mistake, error, wrong action or speech," (Old French mesprision "mistake, wrongdoing, fault, blame, crime"), from mespris, past participle of mesprendre "to mistake, act wrongly, trespass, ...