DictionaryAI

shenanigan

USshuh-NAN-uh-guhn/ʃəˈnænəɡən/UKshi-NAN-i-guhn/ʃɪˈnænɪɡ(ə)n/

2 meanings of shenanigan

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncolloquialcountableplural
    Singular of shenanigans. One trick or prank, done to cheat someone or just for fun.

    His latest shenanigan was hiding his sister's shoes in the freezer.

    That was one shenanigan too many, so the teacher called his parents.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 2
    verbcolloquial
    To trick someone or play jokes on them, or just to act in a tricky, naughty way.
    Gosh, I never was so shenaniganned in all my life.
    1932, John Beames, Gateway

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Origin

No one is sure where it comes from. It was first recorded in California in the 1850s, and it may come from an Irish word meaning "to play tricks".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts