nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap 

1

: a cloth cap worn with nightclothes

2

: a usually alcoholic drink taken at the end of the day

3

: the final race or contest of a day's sports

especially : the second game of a baseball doubleheader

Examples of nightcap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure enough, later in the night, once the guys have come over for a nightcap to Jaclyn, Laurie, and Kate’s villa, Jaclyn and Valentin make plans to meet up after that. —Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025

Jack Swanson added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Rams, who will face the winner of Friday’s nightcap between No. 2 Mesa Ridge and No. 6 Windsor in the 5A final at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. —Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 14 Mar. 2025

Last year, the nightcap of the holiday doubleheader (Washington-Texas) averaged 18.8 million viewers. —Brad Adgate, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025

With Saturday’s win and No. 12 Wisconsin’s loss, the Terps are in line to play in one of the Day 3 nightcaps. —Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nightcap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap

Kids Definition

nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap 

1

: a cap worn with nightclothes

2

: a drink taken at bedtime

3

: the final race or contest of a day's sports activities