Standard Lemma guide

rapscallion

adj · noun · 4 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.

  • /ɹæpˈskæljən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Disreputable, roguish.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A rascal, scamp, rogue, or scoundrel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

one who is playfully mischievous

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: imp, scamp, monkey, rascal, scalawag, scallywag

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: child, kid, youngster, minor, shaver, nipper, small fry, tiddler, tike, tyke, fry, nestling

Narrower terms: terror, brat, little terror, holy terror

4

noun

Meaning 4

a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rogue, knave, rascal, scalawag, scallywag, varlet

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: villain, scoundrel

History

Etymology

From an alteration of rascallion, a fanciful elaboration of rascal (“someone who is naughty”).

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: негодяй (negodjaj) — rascal
  • Bulgarian: вагабонт (vagabont) — rascal
  • Finnish: viikari — rascal
  • Finnish: kelmi — rascal
  • Russian: негодяй (negodjaj) — rascal
  • Spanish: gamberro — rascal