prankster

UK: /ˈpræŋkstə^r/ US: (prangk′stər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prank•ster  (prangk′stər), n. 

1. a mischievous or malicious person who plays tricks, practical jokes, etc., at the expense of another.

• prank¹ + -ster 1925–30, American.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prank¹ /præŋk/   n. [countable]

1. an amusing or playful trick:
   a silly schoolboy prank.

prank•ster, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prank¹  (prangk), n. 

1. a trick of an amusing, playful, or sometimes malicious nature.

• origin, originally uncertain 1520–30

Synonyms

caper, escapade, antic, shenanigan.

prank²  (prangk), v.t. 

1. to dress or adorn in an ostentatious manner:
   They were all pranked out in their fanciest clothes.

v.i. 

2. to make an ostentatious show or display.

• akin to Dutch pronken to show off, strut, pronk show, finery, Middle Low German prank pomp 1540–50