# prankster

/ˈpɹæŋkstɝ/ (US) · /pɹˈæŋkstɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prankster
Updated: 2026-10-12

## Definition

a person who likes to play tricks or practical jokes on other people. They usually do this to be funny or to see how people react.

For teachers: a person who habitually performs practical jokes or mischievous tricks. Often carries a connotation of harmless but disruptive behaviour.

## Examples

- The school prankster put a fake spider on the teacher's chair.
- Security guards eventually caught the prankster who had been putting soap bubbles in the city fountain every Friday night.
- While some viewed the anonymous prankster as a harmless source of office entertainment, others found the constant disruption to their workflow increasingly unprofessional and tiresome.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.