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

Mauser is an ambitious and charismatic tennis-table player in the 1950s who gets into mischief in New York City and abroad in order to win a world ping-pong championship. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

With muddy swims in the water tower, passing trains as social hubs, and plenty of family mischief, the show celebrated simple living with a great sense of humor. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026

Police say the suspects could face charges including trespassing and criminal mischief. —Ross Dimattei, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026

He was charged with dozens more counts of criminal mischief, burglary, intentional desecration of a venerated object and other crimes. —Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 9 Jan. 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