Standard Lemma guide

knavery

noun · 3 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

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  • /ˈneɪvəɹi/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The antics or tricks of a knave; boyish mischief.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rakehood, carrying-on, Corinthianism, knavery, profligacy, vice

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An unprincipled action; deceit.

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

lack of honesty; acts of lying or cheating or stealing

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dishonesty

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wrongdoing, wrongful conduct, misconduct, actus reus

Narrower terms: treachery, betrayal, treason, perfidy, charlatanism, quackery, trick, falsification, falsehood

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English knave Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -ārius Old French -ier Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Old French -ie Old French -eriebor. Middle English -erie English -ery English knavery From knave + -ery.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: schelmenstreek — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Finnish: viikarointi — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • French: coup — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • German: Gaunerei — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • German: Streich — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Ancient Greek: πανουργία (panourgía) — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Polish: łobuzerstwo — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Russian: проде́лка (prodélka) — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Russian: вы́ходка (výxodka) — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Russian: прока́за (prokáza) — the antics or tricks of a knave
  • Bulgarian: мошеничество (mošeničestvo) — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Finnish: petos — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Finnish: lurjustelu — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Georgian: თაღლითობა (taɣlitoba) — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Georgian: ყალთაბანდობა (q̇altabandoba) — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Polish: niegodziwość — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Russian: жу́льничество (žúlʹničestvo) — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Russian: моше́нничество (mošénničestvo) — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Russian: надува́тельство (naduvátelʹstvo) — unprincipled action — see also deceit
  • Russian: плутовство́ (plutovstvó) — unprincipled action — see also deceit