mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent

the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations

—Herbert Spencer

2

: a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation

especially : a person who causes mischief

He's a real mischief to his family.

3

a

: action that annoys or irritates

Halloween mischiefs

b

: the quality or state of being mischievous : mischievousness

had mischief in his eyes

Synonyms

• devilment
• playfulness
• mischievousness
• deviltry
• wickedness
• rascality
• devilry
• roguishness
• devilishness
• roguery
• impishness
• knavery

Examples of mischief in a Sentence

It's hard to keep him out of mischief.

the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway

Recent Examples on the Web

For all the mortal mischief a nuclear weapons facility could whip up, there is very little radiation risk associated with the job of enriching uranium-235 up to the level of 90% purity needed to produce a bomb. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 24 June 2025

The suspects could face charges for criminal mischief and felony theft valued at $1 million or more, according to authorities. —Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Ortiz-Rivera, Almodovar-Roman and Colon-Davila were each charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 10 June 2025

Kia, who’s described as a tenant of the residence, is charged with arson, criminal mischief and animal cruelty, online court records show. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English meschief, from Anglo-French, misfortune, hardship, from Old French meschever to come out badly, mes- + chief head, end — more at chief

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mischief

• malicious mischief

Kids Definition

mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: injury sense 2, harm

2

: a person or animal who causes mischief

3

: mischievous conduct or quality

a child gets into mischief

had mischief in their eyes