mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: a specific injury or damage attributed to a particular agent

… the polished floor … often causes mischiefs—bruises, sprains, dislocations …

—Herbert Spencer

2

: a cause or source of harm, evil, or irritation

especially : a person who causes mischief

He's a real mischief to his family.

3

a

: action that annoys or irritates

Halloween mischiefs

b

: the quality or state of being mischievous : mischievousness

had mischief in his eyes

Synonyms of mischief

• devilment
• playfulness
• mischievousness
• wickedness
• rascality
• devilry
• roguishness
• devilishness
• roguery
• impishness
• knavery
• naughtiness

Examples of mischief in a Sentence

It's hard to keep him out of mischief.

the children claimed that setting off a firecracker was harmless mischief, but they got a lecture anyway

Recent Examples on the Web

He was placed under arrest and charged with first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree criminal mischief and interfering with an officer. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Francisco Ivan Mendiola, 31, was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal mischief and shooting a deadly missile. — David Goodhue, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026

He was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on charges of unlawful discharge of a firearm, criminal mischief and shooting or throwing a deadly missile. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Thankfully Norton didn’t just avoid doing himself a mischief, but won the competition by staying on the the longest. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English meschief, from Anglo-French, misfortune, hardship, from Old French meschever to come out badly, mes- + chief head, end — more at chief

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mischief

• malicious mischief

Kids Definition

mischief

noun

mis·​chief ˈmis-chəf 

ˈmish-

1

: injury sense 2, harm

2

: a person or animal who causes mischief

3

: mischievous conduct or quality

a child gets into mischief

had mischief in their eyes