nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap 

1

: a cloth cap worn with nightclothes

2

: a usually alcoholic drink taken at the end of the day

3

: the final race or contest of a day's sports

especially : the second game of a baseball doubleheader

Examples of nightcap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Or just drop by for a Basil-ica cocktail (gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, orange bitters, and fresh basil) in the Riva bar, arguably the city’s most glamorous spot for aperitivi and nightcaps. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

After being disinvited from a fireside chat with Fortune magazine, Newsom’s office was offered a casual ‘VIP nightcap’ instead. —Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026

No night at the theater is complete without a delicious meal or a nightcap, and Sydney’s restaurant scene will not disappoint. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026

Holiday decor galore paired with an on-theme nightcap? —Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 20 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nightcap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap

Kids Definition

nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap 

1

: a cap worn with nightclothes

2

: a drink taken at bedtime

3

: the final race or contest of a day's sports activities