noun Uncommon

prank

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Prank (noun) means a playful trick or joke played on someone, usually harmless. Example: “Swapping the salt and sugar was a classic prank that had the whole office laughing.”

noun

A playful trick or joke played on someone, usually harmless.

"Swapping the salt and sugar was a classic prank that had the whole office laughing."

"On April Fools' Day the kids pulled a harmless prank on their teacher."

"The students pulled a prank on their teacher on the last day of school."

"It started as a harmless prank but ended up embarrassing everyone."

verb

To play a trick on someone as a joke.

"They pranked their flatmate by filling his room with balloons."

"They pranked their roommate by covering his car in sticky notes."

"My brother pranked me by hiding a plastic spider in my school bag."

archaic To dress or adorn in a showy, ostentatious way.

"She pranked herself out in all her finest jewellery."

"The courtiers pranked themselves up in feathers and bright silks for the grand ball."

"He pranked his horse with ribbons and bells before the village parade."

How to use prank

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA playful trick meant to surprise, tease, or fool someone, usually in good fun.

Common mistake

A prank is meant to be playful — if it's cruel or harmful, "trick" or "hoax" fits better.

Common pairings

pull a prank prank call play a prank on

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: pranks
Third person singular: pranks
Past tense: pranked, prankt

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Swapping the salt and sugar was a classic _____ that had the whole office laughing.

Etymology

Origin uncertain, but likely tied to an old sense of "showing off" or "dressing ostentatiously," related to Dutch "pronken" ("to flaunt"). The modern "mischievous trick" sense grew from an earlier idea of being crafty or putting on an act.

Origin: Dutch

Synonyms

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joke mischief hoax stunt trick fool punk wind up deck out caper capriccio curvet

Related words

play job chance lie joke trick idiot fool

Rhymes for prank

bank dank tank wank rank Hank drank stank plank thank frank swank

See all rhymes for prank →

Frequently asked questions

What is a prank?

A prank is a playful trick or practical joke, usually harmless, played on someone to amuse rather than to genuinely upset them. Good pranks are light-hearted and safe, leaving everyone laughing — including the person on the receiving end.

What is a prank call?

A prank call is when someone phones a person to play a joke or trick on them, usually anonymously and for a laugh, such as a fake wrong number or a silly made-up request. It is meant to be harmless fun rather than to genuinely alarm the person.

Is a prank the same as bullying?

No. A prank is meant to be harmless and, ideally, funny to everyone involved, including the person it is played on. When a so-called prank causes real fear, humiliation, harm or ongoing distress — or the target clearly is not in on the joke — it stops being a prank and becomes bullying.

What is the difference between a prank and a practical joke?

The two terms are largely interchangeable. "Practical joke" is the slightly more formal, traditional phrase, while "prank" is the shorter, more casual and modern word. Both describe a trick set up to amuse. If anything, a practical joke often implies a more elaborate set-up, whereas a prank can be as simple as a quick surprise.

What is the difference between a prank and a hoax?

A prank is a trick played on a specific person or small group for a quick laugh, and everyone usually finds out fast. A hoax is a larger, more deliberate deception designed to fool many people into believing something false, sometimes for a long time. All hoaxes are tricks, but a prank is smaller and lighter in intent.

What are some examples of harmless pranks?

Classic harmless pranks include swapping salt for sugar, taping over a computer mouse sensor, filling a room with balloons, setting someone's desktop wallpaper to a screenshot of their desktop, or a gentle fake phone call. The key is that the target ends up laughing, not upset or inconvenienced in any lasting way.

What is April Fools' Day?

April Fools' Day, on 1 April, is a tradition in many countries where people play pranks and practical jokes on each other, then reveal the trick by shouting "April Fools!" It is the one day of the year most associated with pranking.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing prank in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

The line between a prank and plain cruelty is consent after the fact: a good prank is one the target can laugh at once it is over.

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Words with Dutch origins Words that end with K

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