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

Maybe Canada doesn’t need another billion-dollar weapons system – just a few more hockey sticks and a good dose of patriotic mischief. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

The actors who work best are the ones who give themselves over to his sense of mischief and permissiveness. — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Anderson is facing charges of possession of burglary tools, theft, criminal mischief, and second-degree criminal trespass. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

The suspect has six prior arrests in New York, with charges including criminal contempt, assault and criminal mischief, cops said. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 28 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