frisk

verb \ ˈfrisk \

Definition of frisk

intransitive verb

:to leap, skip, or dance in a lively or playful way :gambol

transitive verb

:to search (a person) for something (such as a concealed weapon) by running the hand rapidly over the clothing and through the pockets

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frisker

noun

See frisk defined for English-language learners

See frisk defined for kids

Examples of frisk in a Sentence

carefree kids laughing and frisking about in their backyard

Recent Examples of frisk from the Web

They are frisked and have their mouths checked for drugs and weapons.

— laura reston, New Republic, "A look inside the massive immigration enforcement apparatus that Obama built up—and that Trump is now exploiting.," 28 Aug. 2017
Neo-Nazi protesters on Saturday were frisked and funneled through tents where police checked them for weapons, forbidden flags and tattoos showing symbols banned in Germany, such as the Nazi swastika.

— Bloomberg.com, "Police Separate 500 Neo-Nazis, Opponents at Berlin Protest," 19 Aug. 2017
Employees were frisked at the beginning and ends of their shift.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "Remembering The Beverly, a mob-run playground in Jefferson Parish," 13 Aug. 2017
At the same time, the report found that after controlling for factors like crime and neighborhood, the likelihood a person will be stopped and, when stopped, be frisked, does vary substantially by race.

— steve miletich, The Seattle Times, "Federal monitor finds Seattle police are conducting proper stops and frisks," 19 June 2017
Still, the monitor found blacks are stopped and frisked at higher rates than their representation in Seattle’s population — an area of concern that requires additional study by the Police Department on what is driving the disparity, the report says.

— steve miletich, The Seattle Times, "Federal monitor finds Seattle police are conducting proper stops and frisks," 19 June 2017
In recent years, temporary structures were erected in the courtyard for frisking visitors and issuing tickets before sending them toward a messy warren of entrances.

— joseph giovannini, New York Times, "How Do You Add to Versailles? Bravely," 5 Aug. 2016
At a place where a cursory ID check is usually as tight as security gets, the doorman was now stationed outside, checking bags and frisking customers before letting them through the doors.

— bennett madison, New York Times, "For Patrons at Julius’, Orlando Doesn’t Seem Very Far Away," 22 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frisk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of frisk

obsolete frisk lively

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1519

See Words from the same year

frisk Synonyms

Synonyms

caper, cavort, disport, frolic, gambol, lark, rollick, romp, sport

Related Words

bound, hop, leap, lope, skip, spring, trip, tumble; curvet, dance, prance; carouse, revel, roister; carry on, fool around, horse around; clown, cut up; joyride, roughhouse, skylark; kite

Near Antonyms

mope, pout, stew, sulk

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

frisk

noun

Definition of frisk

1 a archaic :caper

b :gambol, romp

c :diversion

2 :an act of frisking

Examples of frisk in a Sentence

fondly remembers the summer before he started college as one long frisk

Recent Examples of frisk from the Web

Green claimed the stop and frisk that revealed the weapon was unconstitutional.

— bruce vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Federal appeals court sides with Milwaukee police officer," 23 Aug. 2017
It's rooted in policies, procedures and laws underpinning the justice system that disproportionately affect people of color, from stop-and-frisk policies and arrests for low-level crimes to mandatory minimums in sentencing.

— emanuella grinberg, CNN, "Why police shooting trials rarely end in convictions," 23 June 2017
Hop along as we stop-and-frisk some innocent black men.

— nina sharma, Longreads, "Pee and Fury: Testing the Limits of Bladder Control," 2 June 2017
But Kelly also came under fire for his use of aggressive police tactics, including a program that spied on Muslims and a dramatic spike in the use of stop-and-frisk, which disproportionately affected nonwhite New Yorkers. _

— jill colvin and ken thomas, Fox News, "Candidates under consideration for FBI director," 15 May 2017
But Kelly also came under fire for his use of aggressive police tactics, including a program that spied on Muslims and a dramatic spike in the use of stop-and-frisk, which disproportionately affected nonwhite New Yorkers. _

— Washington Post, "Candidates under consideration for FBI director," 15 May 2017
But Kelly also came under fire for his use of aggressive police tactics, including a program that spied on Muslims and a dramatic spike in the use of stop-and-frisk, which disproportionately affected nonwhite New Yorkers. _

— jill colvin and ken thomas, Fox News, "Candidates under consideration for FBI director," 15 May 2017
But Kelly also came under fire for his use of aggressive police tactics, including a program that spied on Muslims and a dramatic spike in the use of stop-and-frisk, which disproportionately affected nonwhite New Yorkers. _

— Washington Post, "Candidates under consideration for FBI director," 15 May 2017
But Kelly also came under fire for his use of aggressive police tactics, including a program that spied on Muslims and a dramatic spike in the use of stop-and-frisk, which disproportionately affected non-white New Yorkers. _

— jill colvin and ken thomas, Fox News, "Trump considering numerous candidates for FBI director," 13 May 2017

First Known Use of frisk

1525

frisk Synonyms

Synonyms

binge, fling, frolic, gambol, idyll (also idyl), lark, ploy, revel, rollick, romp, spree

Related Words

caper, escapade, prank; bender, brannigan, bum, bust, carouse, souse, splore [Scottish], toot; antic, monkeyshine (s), shenanigan (s); field day; festivity, merriment, merrymaking; enjoyment, indulgence, pleasure, self-indulgence; amusement, diversion, entertainment, recreation

FRISK Defined for English Language Learners

frisk

verb

Definition of frisk for English Language Learners

: to pass your hands over (someone) to search for something that may be hidden in clothing

FRISK Defined for Kids

frisk

verb \ ˈfrisk \

Definition of frisk for Students

frisked; frisking

1 :to move around in a lively or playful way

2 :to search a person quickly for something that may be hidden

Law Dictionary

frisk

transitive verb

legal Definition of frisk

:to run the hand rapidly over the outer clothing of (a suspect) for the purpose of finding concealed weapons — compare search

Note: The purpose of frisking a suspect is to insure the safety of an officer making an investigation against concealed weapons, not to uncover evidence. The officer must be justified in his or her encounter of the suspect and must have a reasonable suspicion that the suspect is armed. The scope of the frisk must be limited to the discovery of weapons.

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