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").
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shenanigan. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.
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