Standard Lemma guide

chicane

adj · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ʃɪˈkeɪn/
  • /t͡ʃɪˈkeɪn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪn

1

adj

Meaning 1

Chicana or Chicano, and of any gender, or of non-binary gender.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, uncommon

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Chicanx, Chican@

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A quibble, a pedantic or dishonest objection; an act of deception.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The use of dishonest means or subterfuge to achieve one's (especially political) goals; chicanery, trickery.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • 1775, Edmund Burke, speech on conciliation with America In this character of the Americans, a love of freedom is the predominating feature which marks and distinguishes the whole; and as an ardent is always a jealous affection, your Colonies become suspicious, restive, and untractable whenever they see the least attempt to wrest from them by force, or shuffle from them by chicane, what they think the only advantage worth living for.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The holding of a hand without trumps, or the hand itself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: bridge, card-games, games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A sharp double bend on a racecourse, designed to prevent unsafe speeds; an obstacle creating a curve.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, motor-racing, racing, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A raised area or other obstacle around which vehicles must drive, especially designed to reduce speed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: road, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A Chicana or Chicano of any gender, or of non-binary gender.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncommon

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Chicanx, Chican@

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To use chicanery, tricks, or subterfuge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To deceive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

the use of tricks to deceive someone (usually to extract money from them)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trickery, chicanery, guile, wile, shenanigan

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deception, deceit, dissembling, dissimulation

Narrower terms: fraud, fraudulence, dupery, hoax, humbug, put-on, jugglery

11

noun

Meaning 11

a movable barrier used in motor racing; sometimes placed before a dangerous corner to reduce speed as cars pass in single file

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: movable barrier

12

noun

Meaning 12

a bridge hand that is void of trumps

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bridge hand

13

verb

Meaning 13

raise trivial objections

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cavil, carp

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: object

14

verb

Meaning 14

defeat someone through trickery or deceit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cheat, chouse, shaft, screw, jockey

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French chicane.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: двусмислица (dvusmislica) — chicanery
  • Czech: podvod — chicanery
  • Czech: trik — chicanery
  • Czech: podvrh — chicanery
  • Finnish: juonittelu — chicanery
  • Finnish: puliveivaus — chicanery
  • German: Schikane — chicanery
  • Catalan: xicana — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Czech: šikana — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Dutch: chicane — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Finnish: šikaani — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • German: Schikane — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Irish: siceán — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Italian: chicane — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Italian: curva a gomito — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Polish: szykana — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Spanish: chicane — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Turkish: şikan — motor racing: double bend or obstacle designed to prevent unsafe speeds
  • Czech: retardér — road transport: obstacle designed to reduce speed
  • Czech: šikana — road transport: obstacle designed to reduce speed
  • Finnish: hidastemutka — road transport: obstacle designed to reduce speed