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 of mischief

• devilment
• mischievousness
• playfulness
• wickedness
• rascality
• devilry
• roguishness
• devilishness
• roguery
• naughtiness
• impishness
• knavery

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

Lackey was charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, criminal mischief and interruption of critical infrastructure, according to the booking report. — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

JetBlue personnel allegedly found Lackey asleep aboard the plane, and he was arrested on charges of burglary, criminal mischief and interrupting critical infrastructure. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

Joaquin Alvarado, 37, of Alexander was arrested Tuesday on two counts of third-degree assault on a family or household member and one count each of criminal mischief and tampering with physical evidence. — Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026

And Weird Science would simply not work if the virtual babe, Lisa, was not played so perfectly by Kelly LeBrock with knowing mischief and surprising gravitas. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

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