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
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
Having a simple common system would remove the frictions caused by every state having different schemes that allow for different shenanigans, a la Florida's hanging chads.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Such shenanigans will be harder to pull off now, thanks to the 2022 Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, a bipartisan effort at fixing problems in the Electoral Count Act of 1887.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
At the time, both the EU and the US were passive in the face of such shenanigans coupled the rankest disinformation.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
This was an end-of-year program, ringing in new officers and celebrating a wonderful previous year, and there are always some lighthearted shenanigans.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shenanigan 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Such shenanigans will be harder to pull off now, thanks to the 2022 Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, a bipartisan effort at fixing problems in the Electoral Count Act of 1887.
—Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2024
At the time, both the EU and the US were passive in the face of such shenanigans coupled the rankest disinformation.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
This was an end-of-year program, ringing in new officers and celebrating a wonderful previous year, and there are always some lighthearted shenanigans.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shenanigan
Dictionary Entries Near shenanigan
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shenanigan. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share