mischief

noun mis·chief \ ˈmis-chəf , ˈmish- \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: mischief in a Sentence

Definition of mischief

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

See mischief defined for English-language learners

See mischief defined for kids

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 of mischief from the Web

Two teenagers were arrested and charged with criminal mischief after allegedly vandalizing Friendswood High School on Independence Day.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "Vandals cause more than $7,000 in damages to Friendswood High School," 12 July 2018
Nihart was charged with criminal mischief and battery.

— lisa maria garza, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Man body-slams blind worker dressed as 'Minion' in Daytona Beach, police say," 11 July 2018
Nihart was charged with criminal mischief and battery and released.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Florida man body slams partially blind man in a Minion costume in a ‘prank’ gone wrong," 11 July 2018
Ildephones has been formally charged breaching bail conditions, cruelty to animals, burglary, indecent exposure, simple assault, reckless conduct and criminal mischief.

— chris harris, PEOPLE.com, "Naked N.H. Man Allegedly Strangled a Golden Retriever," 22 June 2018
Palin was originally charged with felony burglary along with criminal mischief and misdemeanor assault.

— michelle theriault boots, Anchorage Daily News, "Track Palin pleads guilty to reduced charge, enters Anchorage court program for veterans," 19 June 2018
He was arrested in April on charges of theft, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "Former Oregon Linebacker Fotu Leiato Found Dead After Car Crash," 16 June 2018
Barbeau, 49, was arraigned Monday in Deschutes County court on three counts of assault and single counts of criminal mischief and reckless driving.

— shane dixon kavanaugh, OregonLive.com, "Oregon man snaps woman's arm, knocks fiancee out during brutal road rage attack, couple says," 4 June 2018
Bradley was charged with criminal mischief and theft.

— matthew diebel, USA TODAY, "Police arrest Louisiana woman, alleging she faked biting into a razor blade in a restaurant sandwich," 24 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mischief

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year