escapade

noun

es·​ca·​pade ˈe-skə-ˌpād How to pronounce escapade (audio)
: a usually adventurous action that runs counter to approved or conventional conduct

Did you know?

When it was first used in English, escapade referred to an act of escaping or fleeing from confinement or restraint. The relationship between escape and escapade does not end there. Both words derive from the Vulgar Latin verb excappare, meaning "to escape," a product of the Latin prefix ex- and the Late Latin noun cappa, meaning "head covering or cloak." While escape took its route through Anglo-French and Middle English, however, escapade made its way into English by way of the Spanish escapar ("to escape") and the French escapade.

Examples of escapade in a Sentence

As a teenager he embarked on a series of ill-advised escapades. their escapades at the prep school became the stuff of boarding-school legend
Recent Examples on the Web Premiering in 2021, Chucky follows the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2024 The actress spoke to PEOPLE at the premiere of season 4 part 2 of Emily in Paris, which stars Collins as Emily, to talk about her character’s Italian escapades. Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2024 Those toasts often fondly recall campus escapades that involve alcohol and frat events. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024 Eager to reconnect with both new and old friends, guests engaged in a lively game of musical chairs, exchanging fashion week schedules and stories from their summer escapades. Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for escapade 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'escapade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, action of escaping, from Spanish escapada, from escapar to escape, from Vulgar Latin *excappare

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of escapade was in 1667

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Dictionary Entries Near escapade

Cite this Entry

“Escapade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escapade. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

escapade

noun
es·​ca·​pade ˈes-kə-ˌpād How to pronounce escapade (audio)
: a mischievous adventure

More from Merriam-Webster on escapade

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