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
Interspersed and sometimes colliding with all the comic theater-kid shenanigans is Henry’s horror plot, in which the voices coming through Henry’s radio get stronger and stronger, as does Henry with each gruesome kill.
—
Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025
Initially resistant to the idea, Lee and Chris (Yang), reluctantly participate in their respective partners’ shenanigans.
—Toubee Yang, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
The 28-year-old was accompanied by bestie Trinity Green, plus her three sisters, influencers Sarah Jane, Grace Ann and Mary Holland, who also posted snaps of the shenanigans.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
Jeff Probst gives exclusive first-look tour of Survivor 48 Tribal Council set
Sai’s voting booth shenanigans also serve as exhibit A as to why the voting booth location has shifted over the years, which Probst reveals on the podcast.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shenanigan
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Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025
Initially resistant to the idea, Lee and Chris (Yang), reluctantly participate in their respective partners’ shenanigans.
—Toubee Yang, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
The 28-year-old was accompanied by bestie Trinity Green, plus her three sisters, influencers Sarah Jane, Grace Ann and Mary Holland, who also posted snaps of the shenanigans.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
Jeff Probst gives exclusive first-look tour of Survivor 48 Tribal Council set
Sai’s voting booth shenanigans also serve as exhibit A as to why the voting booth location has shifted over the years, which Probst reveals on the podcast.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2025.
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