mischief en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈmɪsˌt͡ʃiːf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (New-Jersey) audio
- /ˈmɪs.t͡ʃɪf/ (Canada, General-American)
- [ˈmɪs.t͡ʃʰɪf] (Canada, General-American)
- (California) audio
- [ˈmɪsˌt͡ʃʰɪi̯f] (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈmɪs.t͡ʃɪf/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈmɪs.t͡ʃʰɪf] (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From Middle English myschef, meschef, meschief, mischef, from Old French meschief, from meschever (“to bring to grief”), from mes- (“badly”) + chever (“happen; come to a head”), from Vulgar Latin *capare, from Latin caput (“head”).
Meanings
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(uncountable) Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance.
Drink led to mischief.
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(countable) A playfully annoying action.
I'le aſſure ye / She vvill not ſee you: ſhe has heard, […] your ſeverall miſcheifes, / Your rovvſes, and your vvenches: […]
1610–1616 (date written), Iohn [i.e., John] Fletcher, Monsieur Thomas. A Comedy. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Iohn Waterson, […], published 1639, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, signature C, verso:John's mischief, tying his shoelaces together, irked George at first.
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(collective, countable, uncountable) A nest or pack of mice or rats.
This was only the latest internet-based catastrophe caused by a mischief of rats (yes, that's what a group of rats is called).
2026 April 11, Aaron Greenbaum, “Rats Are Wrecking Fiber Optic Internet Cables – And It's A Bigger Problem Than You Think”, in BGR, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2026:A group of rats is not a herd or a gaggle, but a pack or a mischief of rats. Rats in general are omnivorous, meaning they will eat almost anything.
2015, Rachel Smith, John Davidson, Rats For Kids, Mendon Cottage Books, →ISBN, page 6:Meet a mischief of mice that is not nibbling away at the foundation of an old building.
2025 December 25, Neva Rae Fox, “This Mischief of Mice Preserves a Cathedral”, in The Living Church, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2026:Kirac, the leader of the rats under his charge, speaks to the major through his telepathic abilities that manifested after the alien virus infected him and his mischief of rats.
2014, G. W. Rennie, The Rat Chronicles, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 21:
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(archaic, uncountable) Harm or injury: ▸ Harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause.
Sooner or later he'll succeed in doing some serious mischief.
Was I the Cauſe of Miſchief, or the Man / Whoſe lawlesſ Luſt the bloody War began?
1697, Virgil, “The Tenth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 502, lines 139–140:She had mischief in her heart.
Vanity working on a weak head, produces every sort of mischief.
1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter 8, in Emma: […], volume I, London: […] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC:I have been tired in history with the perpetual folly of those states, who call in foreigners to assist them against a common enemy: but the mischief was, these allies would never be brought to allow, that the common enemy was quite subdued. And they had reason; for it proved at last, that one part of the common enemy was those who called them in, and so the allies became at length the masters.
1718 December 14 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Jonathan Swift, “A Letter Concerning the Sacramental Test”, in Thomas Sheridan, John Nichols, editors, The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, […], new edition, volume IV, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1801, →OCLC, page 435:I fear this means that there is some mischief afoot.
1914 September – 1915 May, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 1, in The Valley of Fear: A Sherlock Holmes Novel, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, published 27 February 1915, →OCLC:
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(archaic, countable) Harm or injury: ▸ An injury or an instance of harm or trouble caused by a person or other agent or cause.
It may end in her doing a great mischief to herself—and perhaps to others too.
I will heape mischiefes vpon them, I will spend mine arrowes vpon them.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Deuteronomy 32:23:[R]eligion / Hides many mischiefs from suspicion.
c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
- (countable, uncountable) A criminal offence defined in various ways in various jurisdictions, sometimes including causing damage to another's property.
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(archaic, countable) A cause or agent of annoyance, harm or injury, especially a person who causes mischief.
To die like a man of honour, Sir Hargrave, you must have lived like one. You should be sure of your cause. But these pistols are too ready a mischief. Were I to meet you in your own way, Sir Hargrave, I should not expect, that a man so enraged would fire his over my head, as I should be willing to do mine over his. Life I would not put upon the perhaps involuntary twitch of a finger.
1753 (indicated as 1754), [Samuel Richardson], The History of Sir Charles Grandison. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by C. Hitch and L. Hawes, […], →OCLC:Epimetheus was scatter-brained and a mischief to men for having taken the woman [Pandora] that Zeus had formed.
1993, Carlos Parada, Genealogic Guide to Greek Mythology, page 71:
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(countable, euphemistic, uncountable) The Devil; used as an expletive.
What the mischief are you? and how the mischief did you get here, and where in thunder did you come from?
1967, The Statesman, volume 12, page 260:
- (Australia, countable, uncountable) Casual and/or flirtatious sexual acts.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mischiefs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
sportsmanship · gentlemanliness · seemliness · decorum · propriety · probity · gentility
Deriveds
play the mischief with · mischiefful · mischief rule · mischievously · mischiefless · mischievousness · do oneself a mischief · mischiefmaking · mischievous · malicious mischief · mischief-maker
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
bad manners · disobedience · ribaldry
Relateds
do evil · troublemaker · evil
Synonyms
kindle-fire · rakeshame · nithing · yob · roguery · gadfly · villainousness · cockatrice · knavery · charva · niding · scoundrel · punk · villainry · miscreant · awfulness · hanky-panky · beggar · pot stirrer · pique (harm or injury) · bastard · incapacitation (harm or injury) · rabble rouser · buffoon · brawler · corruptness · titivil · pixie · hurt (harm or injury) · impropriety · scumbag · goings-on · rantipole · scum · hoolie · evilness · damage (harm or injury) · shitmonger · hothead · mischief-maker · devilishness · bugger · scathe (harm or injury) · impairment (harm or injury) · imp · undesirable · thug · enormity · rascality · lout · evildoer · devil · scamp · misdemeanor · bad guy · coistril · bhoy · agitator · villainhood · sabotage (harm or injury) · varlet · cad · roguishness · scab · naughtiness · vandal · rascal · bounder · immorality · mischief · enfant terrible · wickedness · roguery · disablement (harm or injury) · detriment (harm or injury) · scampishness · dacoity · breedbate · nefariousness · yobbo · jokester · bovver boy · baddie · corruption · scoundrel · tough · delinquincy · wrangler · instigator · cutup · hooligan · fustilarian · brat · joker · initiator · harm (harm or injury) · vileness · ne'er-do-well · evil (harm or injury) · rogue · firebrand · turpitude · puckishness · trouble (harm or injury) · criminality · badness · heavy · corruption (harm or injury) · puck · hool · impishness · bad boy · minx · delinquency · booger · ill (harm or injury) · roly-poly · makebate · rapscallion · knave · knavery · thug · ne'er-do-well · hood · elfishness · scapegrace · makeshift · troublemaker · lidderon · kindle-coal · badness · scoundrelry · annoyance (harm or injury) · antimodel · wagpastie · bear · rascal · rapscallion · inciter · hell-raiser · scampishness · harlot · evil · savagery · ruffian · blackguard · scumminess · demolition (harm or injury) · deviltry · injury (harm or injury) · hoodlum · villain · unmaking (harm or injury) · mischievousness · rascality · wrong (harm or injury) · weakening (harm or injury) · blackguard · rowdy · villainy · boot boy · undoing (harm or injury) · shit-stirrer · misbehavior · misconduct · practical joker · bad news · knave · prankishness · naughtiness · agitation (harm or injury) · rogue · vexation (harm or injury) · undesirable · jackanapes · miscreant · depravity · wag · atrociousness · tearaway · bully · scamp · rascal · devilry · rapscallion · devilment · destruction (harm or injury) · rogue · knave · prankster · mischief · disruption (harm or injury) · pranksomeness · beggar · elf · nuisance (harm or injury) · scapegrace · ravage (harm or injury) · monkey business · shit disturber · bad boy
Translations (147)
cs darebák (one who causes mischief) · el αταξία (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · pl szkoda (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · tr muzır (one who causes mischief) · cs vandal (one who causes mischief) · el άτακτος (one who causes mischief) · sk potvorstvo (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · mi hīanga (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · fi harmi (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · pt travessura (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · nl onheil (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · mi porohīanga (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · vi trò láu cá (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · bg беля (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · fi pahanteko (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fi jäynä (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fi ilkimys (one who causes mischief) · ga dochar (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · gl falcatruada (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · hu bajkeverő (one who causes mischief) · ru вред (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ga díobháil (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · fr espiègle (one who causes mischief) · es daño (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ja 悪戯っ子 (one who causes mischief) · ru озорство́ (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fi ilkamointi (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · tr muzırlık (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · pt dano (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · de Querulantentum (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · ca entremaliat (one who causes mischief) · ru зло (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · gd trioblaid (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · cs rošťárna (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · mk па́кост (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · bg пакост (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · it vessatorio (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · ga trioblóid (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · fr espièglerie (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sa एनस् (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ga áibhirseoir (one who causes mischief) · cs škoda (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · it danno (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · nb revestrek (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ga diabhlaíocht (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · de Rowdy (one who causes mischief) · ga rógaireacht (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · ru ша́лость (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · de Unfug (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · de Aufrührer (one who causes mischief) · de Unruhestifter (one who causes mischief) · nl plaaggeest (one who causes mischief) · es diablura (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · cs darebáctví (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ca entremaliadura (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ga clampróir (one who causes mischief) · es maldad (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sv hyss (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · nb ablegøye (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · nb ugagn (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · it indisponente (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · hi शरारत (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · de Unheil (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · cs rošťárna (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · mk па́косник (one who causes mischief) · chr ᏄᏁᎸᎾ (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fr bêtise (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · nv ádílááh (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · sk zlota (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · nl kattenkwaad (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fi kiusa (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sk nezbedník (one who causes mischief) · el διαβολιά (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sk potvora (one who causes mischief) · sv bus (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · el αταξία (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · mk беља́џија (one who causes mischief) · gl trasnada (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · fi tihutyö (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · vi trò tinh nghịch (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · cmn 促狹鬼 /促狭鬼 (one who causes mischief) · cs neplecha (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · it birboneria (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sv buse (one who causes mischief) · cs neplecha (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · pa ਇਲਤ (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · es travesura (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · cs darebáctví (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · ja 悪戯 (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · pt travesso (one who causes mischief) · cs spoušť (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · es travieso (one who causes mischief) · ga diabhal (one who causes mischief) · fr polissonnerie (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ca entremaliadura (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · izh pilla (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · mk па́кост (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · sv odåga (one who causes mischief) · es gamberrada (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · de Aufruhr (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · es revoltoso (one who causes mischief) · cy drygioni (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · mk бе́ља (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · ru озорни́к (one who causes mischief) · hu baj (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · fi riiviö (one who causes mischief) · ru шалу́н (one who causes mischief) · it malandrino (one who causes mischief) · de Schläger (one who causes mischief) · ru прока́зник (one who causes mischief) · de Störenfried (one who causes mischief) · it birbone (one who causes mischief) · mi raweke (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · ga toirmeascaí (one who causes mischief) · nb fantestrek (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · cs nezbednost (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · it malanno (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · el σκανδαλιάρης (one who causes mischief) · fr espièglerie (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · cmn 惡作劇 /恶作剧 (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · af kattekwaad (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fr méfait ((law) a criminal offence) · es picardía (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · cs rošťák (one who causes mischief) · mk беља́џика (one who causes mischief) · fi kiusanteko (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · es travesura (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fi kujeilu (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · fi ilkivalta (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · cmn 罪行 ((law) a criminal offence) · ca malifeta (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · de Unfug (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · de Unheil (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · vi trò tinh quái (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · sv bråkstake (one who causes mischief) · gl falcatrúa (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · he קֻנְדָּס (one who causes mischief) · it bravata (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · es diablura (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sv ofog (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · sk darebák (one who causes mischief) · cy direidi (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · de Anstifter (one who causes mischief) · he תַּעֲלוּל (conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance) · sv bråkmakare (one who causes mischief) · pl niegodziwość (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause) · pt travessura (harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause)