escapade

noun

es·​ca·​pade ˈe-skə-ˌpād 

: 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.

Synonyms

• antic
• caper
• capriccio
• dido
• frolic
• gag
• jest
• knavery
• monkeyshine(s)
• practical joke
• prank
• rag [chiefly British]
• roguery
• shavie [Scottish]
• shine(s)
• trick
• waggery

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

This includes telemarketing scams targeting senior citizens, an arsonist setting fire to the city of Boston, the Italian Mafia’s downfall over olive oil and the escapades of a rare book thief. —Peter White, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2024

That’s the question journalists Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes ask in this compelling series which seeks to debunk our misconceptions about everything from the escapades of Bonnie and Clyde to vilified women like Princess Diana, Marie Antoinette, Monica Lewinsky, and Yoko Ono. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 16 July 2024

The rhythmic hum of the engine and the scent of Texas soil forged a deep connection to the land, shaping his understanding of its resources and embedding the legacy of those well-checking escapades. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

Timelessly chic and incredibly versatile, these woven wonders have solidified themselves as the quintessential companion for everything from breezy beach outings to elegant evening escapades. —Chloe Castleberry, StyleCaster, 5 July 2024

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

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Kids Definition

escapade

noun

es·​ca·​pade ˈes-kə-ˌpād 

: a mischievous adventure