caper

noun

ca·​per ˈkā-pər 

1

a

: an illegal or questionable act or escapade

The biggest criminal caper he got caught for was a $65 robbery of a convenience store …

—The Columbian (Vancouver, WA)

b

: an amusing movie or story about such an act or escapade

This offbeat, Runyonesque caper shows uncanny insight into the psychology of the con man and his all-too-willing victims.

—Sybil Steinberg

2

: a capricious escapade : prank

The boys were disciplined for their foolish capers.

3

: a frolicsome leap

He was so happy he cut a caper on the steps.

I feel as if I could be anything or everything; as if I could rant and storm, or sigh, or cut capers in any tragedy or comedy in the English language.

—Jane Austen

Did you know?

Caper in Latin means "a male goat". Anyone who has watched a young goat frolic in a field or clamber onto the roof of a car knows the kind of crazy fun the English word caper —which is also a verb—is referring to. A capriole is a backward kick done in midair by a trained horse. Capricorn, meaning "horned goat", is a constellation and one of the signs of the zodiac. And a capricious act is one that's done with as little thought as a frisky goat might give it.

Synonyms of caper

• prank
• trick
• adventure
• escapade

Examples of caper in a Sentence

long-ago college capers that have become more rollicking and daring with each recounting

Recent Examples on the Web

Wild king salmon topped with tomatoes, olives and capers was accessorized with a puff pastry in the shape of a cartoon fish. —Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026

This intoxicating caper follows Ava, a fortunate daughter who breaks bad when she gets caught up in a counterfeit purse ring. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026

In the penultimate episode of Sam Levinson’s high school drama turned Western crime caper, Alamo sends Rue back to Laurie’s (Martha Kelly) house to reclaim the goods her crew stole from his safe. —Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026

Add mushrooms and capers; reduce heat to medium-low to heat it back up. —Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps shortened from capriole

Note: Note that capriole itself is first attested about the same time as caper, so that a shortening of the former word would have had to take place almost as soon as it was borrowed. The verb caper entry 2 appears at virtually the same time as the noun.

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing caper

• cut a caper

Rhymes for caper

• paper
• raper
• scraper
• shaper
• taper
• vapor
• newspaper
• notepaper
• sandpaper
• skyscraper
• wallpaper
• wastepaper

Kids Definition

caper

1 of 3 noun

ca·​per ˈkā-pər 

: a pickled flower bud or young berry of a low prickly shrub of the Mediterranean region that is used as a seasoning

caper

2 of 3 verb

capered; capering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to leap about in a lively way

caper

3 of 3 noun

1

: a playful bounding leap or spring

2

: a playful or mischievous trick

3

: an illegal or questionable act

Etymology

from earlier capers "caper shrub or berry" (mistaken as a plural), from Middle English caperis (same meaning), from Latin capperis "caper shrub"

probably an altered form of English capriole "a playful leap, a leap by a trained horse," from early French capriole or early Italian capriola (both, same meaning), derived from Latin capreolus "goat, male deer"