shenanigan

noun

she·​nan·​i·​gan shə-ˈna-ni-gən How to pronounce shenanigan (audio)
1
: a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose
2
a
: tricky or questionable practices or conduct
usually used in plural
b
: high-spirited or mischievous activity
usually used in plural

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").

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 The administrative complaint also alleged paperwork lies and shenanigans by Seduction and Sampson. David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Keen to catch the red-carpet shenanigans beforehand? Vogue, 4 Feb. 2024 Marc Piasecki Something tells us Mossy doesn't have much of a sense of humor about these types of shenanigans but probably just won't care. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024 Drummond shared a glimpse of the longtime friends’ shenanigans, including going shoe shopping in Music City. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The current primary setup was passed by voters in 2010, partly to stop partisans from engaging in primary shenanigans. Nicholas Riccardi, The Denver Post, 29 Feb. 2024 The judge tried to curtail the shenanigans at play, but the zany Wild West feverish clamoring was difficult to keep within the bounds of proper courtroom decorum. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 The wedding special also included footage of moments leading up to the big day, including dress shopping and bachelorette party shenanigans. Vulture, 5 Jan. 2024 The origins of those materials in the women’s trunk are teased gradually throughout the movie, which cuts between the road trip and the criminal shenanigans of a sinister character played by Colman Domingo and his goons, played by Joey Slotnick and C.J. Wilson. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shenanigan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shenanigan was in 1854

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Dictionary Entries Near shenanigan

Cite this Entry

“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shenanigan. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.

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