mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent

the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations

—Herbert Spencer

2

: a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation

especially : a person who causes mischief

He's a real mischief to his family.

3

a

: action that annoys or irritates

Halloween mischiefs

b

: the quality or state of being mischievous : mischievousness

had mischief in his eyes

Synonyms

• devilishness
• devilment
• devilry
• deviltry
• diablerie
• espièglerie
• hob
• impishness
• knavery
• mischievousness
• rascality
• roguery
• roguishness
• shenanigan(s)
• waggery
• waggishness
• wickedness

Examples of mischief in a Sentence

It's hard to keep him out of mischief.

the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway

Recent Examples on the Web

Fire marshals charged Cherry with three counts of second-degree arson, three counts of criminal mischief, and three counts of reckless endangerment. —Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025

In the video, De Souza jumps around a bouncy castle and making mischief at a stuffy garden party. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2025

In 1996, he was found guilty of criminal mischief for threatening a tabloid photographer with a gun, and paid a $1,000 fine. —Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

She was also booked with two counts of criminal mischief, along with terroristic threats and resisting arrest. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English meschief, from Anglo-French, misfortune, hardship, from Old French meschever to come out badly, mes- + chief head, end — more at chief

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mischief

• malicious mischief

Kids Definition

mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: injury sense 2, harm

2

: a person or animal who causes mischief

3

: mischievous conduct or quality

a child gets into mischief

had mischief in their eyes