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

There have been all sorts of concerns for a while, including shenanigans around using metrics from SaaS to apply to AI-native companies (that logic is specious at best). —Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026

Pools, trails, nine-hole putting, a pond (essential for childhood shenanigans), and nightly s’mores by the firepit. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026

Seven minutes later, Konnor Smith, Judd Caulfield and Sasha Pastujov took turns in the penalty box for their own physical shenanigans. —Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026

As a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York who lived through the Watergate era, Nixon’s shenanigans appear as normal as apple pie. —James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 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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