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").
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 office, a symbolic province of the elderly, has become a particularly exciting backdrop for youthful shenanigans.
—
Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2025
The answer is the Florida Man Games, an event inspired by whacky headlines and Sunshine State shenanigans that returned on Saturday for its second year.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
The bump stays on, the fake baby stays secret, and shenanigans ensue.
—Madeline Fry Schultz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Additionally, the reel features a sweet at-home moment between Colin and Penelope, and plenty of offscreen shenanigans between Thompson and Claudia Jessie, who portrays Bridgerton sister, Eloise.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
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Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2025
The answer is the Florida Man Games, an event inspired by whacky headlines and Sunshine State shenanigans that returned on Saturday for its second year.
—Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
The bump stays on, the fake baby stays secret, and shenanigans ensue.
—Madeline Fry Schultz, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Additionally, the reel features a sweet at-home moment between Colin and Penelope, and plenty of offscreen shenanigans between Thompson and Claudia Jessie, who portrays Bridgerton sister, Eloise.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
Cite this Entry
“Shenanigan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shenanigan. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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