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

• mischief
• misconduct

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

Bluey lives with her mom, dad and sister Bingo, and the family is always up to fun, unpredictable shenanigans. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

How that ratio of truth to horse manure will manifest in the shenanigans of season two is anyone’s guess. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025

With strong low-end torque, the larger engine makes off-road shenanigans and highway merges equally stress-free. —Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

The child star, who had previously made TV appearances and had a supporting part in 1989's Uncle Buck, nabbed the starring role in the movie playing Kevin McCallister, a young boy who is accidentally left home alone by his family and faces the ensuing shenanigans of his solo time. —EW.com, 26 Aug. 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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