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

Pack your gear, embrace the sunshine, and embark on an unforgettable outdoor escapade in Florida! —Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

Throughout the 1920s, the national press closely followed Boll’s escapades. —Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024

The friends and costars, who sat down with PEOPLE earlier this month, recalled their behind-the-scenes escapades. —Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024

But Roy and Mandy continued to recount their escapades. —Fiona McFarlane, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024

As the escapade ensues, so does the comedy and the tug-and-pull relationship between Sandler and Aniston’s characters. —Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024

The Marbles Kids Museum and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences are must-visit spots for curious kiddos, while Pullen Park is the spot for outdoor escapades. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024

The celebrated revival of the race in 2019, following a significant hiatus, marks a new era for this icy escapade, beckoning Porsche, among other illustrious car brands, to brave the glacial circuits once more. —Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024

The allure of a cozy bed beckons, promising a night filled with dreams and the anticipation of an early morning escapade in the clouds. Day 2 Up, Up, and Away Good morning, fellow adventurers! —Branded Content Contributor, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 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