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

That original inclusion of a metal bell at the Lafayette restaurant led to some classic small-town shenanigans. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026

This sexy rivals-to-lovers whodunnit is bursting with sleuthing shenanigans and all your favorite tropes. —Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026

Swashbuckling shenanigans from the high seas are on the way to the 2026 South Florida Fair. —Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026

But in the past, there has been no will to discipline the stock traders and stop the shenanigans. —Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for shenanigan

• brannigan

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