shenanigan

noun

she·​nan·​i·​gan shə-ˈna-ni-gən 

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").

Synonyms

• 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

The matching shrug pose wasn’t the last of James and Fallon’s silly shenanigans during the show. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 24 June 2025

From more superhero shenanigans in Gen V Season 2, to the continuation of epic fantasy action in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3, these series are all a must-watch. —Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

Almost ten years after Jeb’s temporal shenanigans, Pete Buttigieg ... —Jack Butler, National Review, 8 June 2025

The markets, too, are learning to ignore Trump’s tariff shenanigans — good news for investors and retirement accounts, bad news for Trump’s waning influence on world leaders. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shenanigan

• brannigan

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