Episode Overview

Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Date: April 1, 2026
Episode Title: shenanigans
Host: Peter Sokolowski

This episode features the word of the day: “shenanigans.” The host, Peter Sokolowski, delves into its meaning, usage, and etymology, offering lively commentary and a bit of word history fitting for April Fool's Day.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Usage (00:00–00:50)

• Word of the Day: Shenanigans (plural noun)
• Meaning:
  • Refers to activity or behavior that is not honest or proper, or is mischievous/high-spirited.
  • The oldest meaning (often singular, “shenanigan”): a devious trick, especially for an underhanded purpose.
• Sample Sentence:
  • “Here's the word used in a sentence from the LA… Do you remember what it was like to be bored? Like, really bored? As a Gen Xer, I didn't grow up scrolling social media or playing endless hours of Minecraft to keep me busy. Instead, I spent a fair amount of my free time after school crafting the perfect prank call. In retrospect, it was time well spent. Well, maybe some shenanigans may have gone too far.” (Peter Sokolowski, 00:30)
• Tone: Playful, fits the mischievous theme of the word and April 1st.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Generalization of the Word:
  • “Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. Either way, we call it shenanigans, employing a word whose history is as slippery as the monkey business it names.” (Peter Sokolowski, 00:50)

Etymology and Historical Context (00:55–01:40)

• Origins:
  • Likely first appeared in print in the Western United States in the 1850s.
  • Theories suggest British Isles origins—possibly from words meaning:
    • Silly behavior,
    • Feigned illness,
    • A sweet rum-beer libation.
• Notable Quote:
  • “We know that the word likely first appeared in print in the 1850s in the Western United States, but most theories of its genesis assert that it was born in the British Isles, with potential origin words referring to such things as silly behavior, feigned illness, and a sweet rum beer libation.” (Peter Sokolowski, 01:10)

Modern Usage (01:40–01:55)

• Sense Shift:
  • Underhanded trick is the oldest meaning.
  • Now most often refers to:
    • Dishonest or improper activity (political shenanigans)
    • Mischievous or high-spirited behavior (youthful shenanigans)
• Notable Observation:
  • The word’s use has evolved—its flexibility makes it widespread in describing both lighthearted pranks and serious misdeeds.

Episode Closing (01:55–02:12)

• Host Sign-off:
  • “With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.”

Highlighted Timestamps

• 00:00–00:15 — Introduction of the word “shenanigans,” spelling, and part of speech.
• 00:20–00:50 — Definitions and illustrative sentence including personal anecdote.
• 00:50–01:10 — Playful take on April Fool’s relevance and the term’s “slippery” history.
• 01:10–01:40 — Etymology, origins in both American English and the British Isles.
• 01:40–01:55 — How the meaning has shifted in modern usage.
• 01:55–02:12 — Sign-off and invitation to explore more words.

Notable Quotes

• “Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us. Either way, we call it shenanigans, employing a word whose history is as slippery as the monkey business it names.”
  — Peter Sokolowski (00:50)

• “We know that the word likely first appeared in print in the 1850s in the Western United States, but most theories of its genesis assert that it was born in the British Isles…”
  — Peter Sokolowski (01:10)

Summary

This lively episode unpacks “shenanigans”—its playful spirit and chequered linguistic past—just in time for April Fool’s Day. Sokolowski ties personal childhood memories of prank calls to the word’s core meaning, illustrates both its mischievous and more serious (even political) uses, and piques curiosity about its uncertain origin story. The word’s adaptability and robust presence in modern English highlight why “shenanigans” is a perennial favorite for all manners of monkey business.