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

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

According to Florida Department of Corrections records, Antoine was on a four-year probation for a 2024 criminal mischief felony charge. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Election deniers on the ballot in Arizona, Nevada and Wisconsin could make mischief in 2028. — Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Author-director Wayne Wang is back to carnal game playing as a catalyst for psychological mischief in Diary of a Mad Old Man, which stars Fan Bingbing and Lily Franky and is headed to a gala world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Bucking Fastard, Werner Herzog’s first fiction film since 2019, belongs to a hallowed lineage of cinema about weird gals getting into mischief. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 3 Sep. 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