scamp

1 of 2

noun

ˈskamp 

1

: rascal, rogue

2

: an impish or playful young person

scampish

ˈskam-pish 

adjective

scamp

2 of 2

verb

scamped; scamping; scamps

transitive verb

: to perform or deal with in a hasty, neglectful, or imperfect manner

Synonyms of scamp

Noun

• monkey
• devil
• rascal

Examples of scamp in a Sentence

Noun

those little scamps are always getting into trouble, but no one has the heart to punish them

an insincere and ruthlessly ambitious scamp who was willing to do anything to win the reality show's grand prize

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Yes, otters — those adorable little scamps with nearly human faces that mostly lie on their backs at the surface, using their bellies as snack trays. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Posters read The Deflecting Pool and Davey’s a champ, not a scamp! — Matt Viser, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Verb

While its individual characters feel largely interchangeable, the movie hums with life and pleasure when Borowczyk lets his nuns twirl around the chapel in a painterly tableau and scamp through the convent. — Elle Carroll, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

obsolete scamp to roam about idly

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scamp

• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• ramp
• samp
• stamp
• tamp
• tramp

Kids Definition

scamp

noun

ˈskamp

: rascal sense 2