shenanigan

noun

she·​nan·​i·​gan shə-ˈna-ni-gən 

1

: a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose

2

a

: tricky or questionable practices or conduct

—usually used in plural

b

: high-spirited or mischievous activity

—usually used in plural

Did you know?

The history of shenanigan is as tricky and mischievous as its meaning. Etymologists have some theories about its origins, but no one has been able to prove them. All we can say for certain is that the earliest known uses of the word in print appeared in the mid-1800s. Although the "underhanded trick" sense of the word is oldest, the most common senses in use now are "tricky or questionable practices" (as in "political shenanigans") and "high-spirited behavior" (as in "youthful shenanigans").

Synonyms

• devilishness
• devilment
• devilry
• deviltry
• diablerie
• espièglerie
• hob
• impishness
• knavery
• mischief
• mischievousness
• rascality
• roguery
• roguishness
• waggery
• waggishness
• wickedness

Examples of shenanigan in a Sentence

students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school

an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp

Recent Examples on the Web

Time may have passed, but George Clooney is still up to his old shenanigans. —Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 22 Feb. 2025

Drake is busy entertaining crowds in Australia on his Anita Max Win Tour, and the headlines about his different on-stage shenanigans have been steadily rolling in. —Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 20 Feb. 2025

The shenanigans continued during key witness Relli’s testimony from Jan. 26 to Feb. 3. —Driadonna Roland, refinery29.com, 19 Feb. 2025

The implications of the Lyons decision for much of the Trump administration’s shenanigans are pretty obvious. —Ian Millhiser, Vox, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shenanigan

• brannigan

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