mischief

UK: /ˈmɪstʃɪf/ US: /ˈmɪstʃɪf/ ,(mis′chif )

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

mis•chief /ˈmɪstʃɪf/   n. [uncountable]

1. conduct or activity that causes slight annoyance:
   The children were always getting into mischief.
2. a tendency to tease or annoy:
   Her eyes were full of mischief.
3. harm or trouble:
   to come to mischief.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

mis•chief  (mis′chif ), n. 

1. conduct or activity that playfully causes petty annoyance.
2. a tendency or disposition to tease, vex, or annoy.
3. a vexatious or annoying action.
4. harm or trouble, esp. as a result of an agent or cause.
5. an injury or evil caused by a person or other agent or cause.
6. a cause or source of harm, evil, or annoyance.
7. the devil.

• Old French, noun, nominal derivative of meschever to end badly, come to grief. See mis-¹, achieve
• Middle English meschef 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 4. hurt. See damage. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mischief / ˈmɪstʃɪf/ noun

1. wayward but not malicious behaviour, usually of children, that causes trouble, irritation, etc
2. a playful inclination to behave in this way or to tease or disturb
3. injury or harm caused by a person or thing
4. a person, esp a child, who is mischievous
5. a source of trouble, difficulty, etc

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French meschief disaster, from meschever to meet with calamity; from mes- mis-¹ + chever to reach an end, from chef end, chief