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").
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
There's nothing ground-breaking about Freelance, but summer movie season is the perfect time to turn your brain off and watch some John Cena jungle shenanigans.
—
PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
The result is a wild ride of ghostly shenanigans, turning a simple school event into a hilarious fright night.
—Jane Lacroix, People.com, 13 July 2025
The gruff, no-nonsense Neeson (an Oscar nominee for Schindler’s List and star of the Taken and Star Wars franchises, among his 100-plus movie credits) isn't an obvious choice to lead a comedy chock-full of puns, misunderstood questions, double entendres, shenanigans, and slapstick moments.
—EW.com, 8 July 2025
She was inspired by everything around her – kids being in the wrong place at the wrong time, kids getting in trouble, even the shenanigans of her own four kids.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
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PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
The result is a wild ride of ghostly shenanigans, turning a simple school event into a hilarious fright night.
—Jane Lacroix, People.com, 13 July 2025
The gruff, no-nonsense Neeson (an Oscar nominee for Schindler’s List and star of the Taken and Star Wars franchises, among his 100-plus movie credits) isn't an obvious choice to lead a comedy chock-full of puns, misunderstood questions, double entendres, shenanigans, and slapstick moments.
—EW.com, 8 July 2025
She was inspired by everything around her – kids being in the wrong place at the wrong time, kids getting in trouble, even the shenanigans of her own four kids.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shenanigan. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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