Standard Lemma guide

prankster

noun · 2 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈpɹæŋkstəː/
  • Received-Pronunciation: [ˈphɹwæŋkstəː]
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈpɹæŋkstɚ/ without æ-raising
  • [ˈphɹwæŋkstɚ] ~ [ˈphɹwæŋkstɹ̩] without æ-raising
  • /ˈpɹeɪ̯ŋkstɚ/ æ-raising
  • [ˈphɹweɪ̯ŋkstɚ] ~ [ˈphɹweɪ̯ŋkstɹ̩] æ-raising
  • /ˈpɹɛ̃ŋkstɚ/ æ-raising
  • [ˈphɹwɛ̃ŋkstɚ] ~ [ˈphɹwɛ̃ŋkstɹ̩] æ-raising
  • CMU ARPABET: P R AE1 NG K S T ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who performs pranks.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • A skilled prankster.
  • She became famous as a prankster.
  • He loves being a prankster and is often seen pulling off several pranks on his bullies.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trickster

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

someone who plays practical jokes on others

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cut-up, trickster, tricker, hoaxer, practical joker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: troublemaker, trouble maker, troubler, mischief-maker, bad hat

History

Etymology

Derived from prank + -ster.

Across languages

Translations

69 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: жартаўні́к (žartawník) — one who performs pranks
  • Belarusian: жартаўні́ца (žartawníca) — one who performs pranks
  • Bulgarian: шегаджи́я (šegadžíja) — one who performs pranks
  • Bulgarian: шегаджи́йка (šegadžíjka) — one who performs pranks
  • Bulgarian: майтапчи́я (majtapčíja) — one who performs pranks
  • Bulgarian: майтапчи́йка (majtapčíjka) — one who performs pranks
  • Chinese Mandarin: 愛開玩笑的人 /爱开玩笑的人 (ài kāiwánxiào de rén) — one who performs pranks
  • Czech: vtipálek — one who performs pranks
  • Czech: čtverák — one who performs pranks
  • Czech: šibal — one who performs pranks
  • Finnish: kujeilija — one who performs pranks
  • Finnish: pilailija — one who performs pranks
  • French: farceur — one who performs pranks
  • French: farceuse — one who performs pranks
  • French: plaisantin — one who performs pranks
  • French: plaisantine — one who performs pranks
  • German: Schelm — one who performs pranks
  • German: Scherzbold — one who performs pranks
  • German: Spaßvogel — one who performs pranks
  • German: Schalk — one who performs pranks
  • German: Streichespieler — one who performs pranks
  • German: Streichespielerin — one who performs pranks
  • Greek: γκαφατζής (gkafatzís) — one who performs pranks
  • Greek: γκαφατζού (gkafatzoú) — one who performs pranks
  • Hebrew: קֻנְדָּס (qundás) — one who performs pranks
  • Hungarian: kópé — one who performs pranks
  • Hungarian: csínytevő — one who performs pranks
  • Italian: burlone — one who performs pranks
  • Italian: burlona — one who performs pranks
  • Japanese: 悪戯者 (itazuramono) — one who performs pranks
  • Korean: 장난꾸러기 (jangnankkureogi) — one who performs pranks
  • Macedonian: мајта́пчија (majtápčija) — one who performs pranks
  • Macedonian: мајта́пчика (majtápčika) — one who performs pranks
  • Macedonian: шега́џија (šegádžija) — one who performs pranks
  • Macedonian: шега́џика (šegádžika) — one who performs pranks
  • Māori: hīanga — one who performs pranks
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: skøyarfant — one who performs pranks
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: spøkefugl — one who performs pranks
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: skjemtegauk — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: psotnik — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: psotnica — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: figlarz — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: figlarka — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: kawalarz — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: kawalarka — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: dowcipniś — one who performs pranks
  • Polish: dowcipniśia — one who performs pranks
  • Portuguese: brincalhão — one who performs pranks
  • Portuguese: traquinas — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: шутни́к (šutník) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: шутни́ца (šutníca) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: прока́зник (prokáznik) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: прока́зница (prokáznica) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: озорни́к (ozorník) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: озорни́ца (ozorníca) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: пра́нкстер (pránkstɛr) — one who performs pranks
  • Russian: пра́нкер (pránker) — one who performs pranks
  • Slovak: vtipkár — one who performs pranks
  • Spanish: bromista — one who performs pranks
  • Spanish: chancero — one who performs pranks
  • Spanish: guasón — one who performs pranks
  • Spanish: jaranero — one who performs pranks
  • Spanish: jaranista — one who performs pranks
  • Sranan Tongo: komediman — one who performs pranks
  • Turkish: şakacı — one who performs pranks
  • Turkish: latifeci — one who performs pranks
  • Ottoman Turkish: لطیفهجی (latifeci) — one who performs pranks
  • Ukrainian: жартівни́к (žartivnýk) — one who performs pranks
  • Ukrainian: жартівни́ця (žartivnýcja) — one who performs pranks
Real reading context

prankster in complete knowledge articles