shenanigan

noun

she·​nan·​i·​gan shə-ˈna-ni-gən 

1

a

: activity or behavior that is not honest or proper : deceptive or questionable practices or conduct

—usually used in plural

They were engaged in financial/political shenanigans.

… takes attention away from the shenanigans of corporate executives …

—Anthony Lewis

b

: high-spirited or mischievous activity

—usually used in plural

students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school

But this is just a taste of all the shenanigans that went down.

—Allie Gemmill

2

old-fashioned : a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose

Did you know?

The history of shenanigan is as tricky and mischievous as its meaning. Etymologists have some theories about its origins, but no one has been able to prove them. All we can say for certain is that the earliest known uses of the word in print appeared in the mid-1800s. Although the "underhanded trick" sense of the word is oldest, the most common senses in use now are "tricky or questionable practices" (as in "political shenanigans") and "high-spirited behavior" (as in "youthful shenanigans").

Synonyms of shenanigan

• mischief
• misconduct

Examples of shenanigan in a Sentence

students engaging in youthful shenanigans on the last day of school

an act of vandalism that went way beyond the usual shenanigans at summer camp

Recent Examples on the Web

All these shenanigans ultimately end up doing is cementing Stacey as indispensable to the group. —Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025

In the Disney sequel, Anna (Lindsay Lohan) is days away from her wedding when she and psychiatrist mom Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) get caught up again in more body-swap shenanigans. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Nov. 2025

Does anyone, including the creators of this admittedly atmospheric combo of supernatural spookiness, miscellaneous folk-horror debris, slasher-flick shenanigans, vague stabs at gender politics, and blatant cakesploitation? —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025

The biggest twist on the source material was Nathan’s decision to include a form-shifting antagonist who is well-known for Biblical shenanigans. —William Earl, Variety, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for shenanigan

• brannigan

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