Definitions for mischief
ˈmɪs tʃɪfmis·chief

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mischief, mischief-making, mischievousness, deviltry, devilry, devilment, rascality, roguery, roguishness, shenanigannoun

   reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

2. maleficence, mischief, balefulnessnoun

   the quality or nature of being harmful or evil

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. mischiefnoun

   Harm or evil caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause.

2. mischiefnoun

   One who causes mischief. In a milder sense, one who causes petty annoyances. mischief-maker.

3. mischiefnoun

   Vexatious or annoying conduct.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Mischiefnoun

   harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport

2. Mischiefnoun

   cause of trouble or vexation; trouble

3. Mischiefverb

   to do harm to

Freebase(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Mischief

   The etymology of the word comes from Old French meschief, which means "misfortune,' from meschever, "to end badly." In United States criminal law, mischief is an offense against property that does not involve conversion. It typically involves any damage, defacement, alteration, or destruction of property. Common forms include vandalism, graffiti, or some other destruction or defacement of property other than arson. Governed by state law, criminal mischief is committed when a perpetrator, having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he/she has such right, intentionally damages property of another person, intentionally participates in the destruction of property of another person, or participates in the reckless damage or destruction of property of another person. Criminal mischief is usually a misdemeanor. In computer science and hacker jargon, mischief is a form of attack that clearly indicates the breach of the system and constitutes a form of injury or an infringement of rights, more specifically invasion of privacy, against which legal action can be taken to secure damages. Grey hat hackers often use mischief as a way to signal security breaches to system administrators.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Mischief

   mis′chif, n. an ill consequence: evil: injury: damage, hurt: (coll.) the devil, as in 'What the mischief,' &c.—n. Mis′chief-mak′er, one who incites to mischief.—adjs. Mis′chief-mak′ing, causing mischief; Mis′chievous, causing mischief: injurious: prone to mischief.—adv. Mis′chievously.—n. Mis′chievousness.—Play the mischief with, to disturb anything greatly. [O. Fr. meschef, from mes-, ill, chef—L. caput, the head.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mischief

   See MASTER OF MISRULE.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. mischief

   naughty behavior, misbehaviour in a playful way sometimes causing harm

   The little mischiefs of childhood are no longer funny.

   Submitted by anonymous on March 15, 2019  

Matched Categories

1. • Evil

How to pronounce mischief?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say mischief in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of mischief in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of mischief in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of mischief in a Sentence

1. Thomas Paine:

   The peaceable part of mankind will be continually overrun by the vile and abandoned while they neglect the means of self-defense. The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms, like laws discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe and preserve order in the world as well as property. The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside... Horrid mischief would ensue were (the good) deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become a prey to the strong.

2. Johann von Goethe:

   I respect the man who knows distinctly what he wishes. The greater part of all mischief in the world arises from the fact that men do not sufficiently understand their own aims. They have undertaken to build a tower, and spend no more labor on the foundation than would be necessary to erect a hut.

3. William Cobbett:

   It is no small mischief to a boy, that many of the best years of his life should be devoted to the learning of what can never be of any real use to any human being. His mind is necessarily rendered frivolous and superficial by the long habit of attaching importance to words instead of things; to sound instead of sense.

4. Famous Proverb:

   Wherever there is mischief, there is sure to be a priest and a woman in it.

5. Julius Caesar:

   Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot. Take thou what course thou wilt.

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