prankster

Everyday

A prankster is a person who likes playing pranks — tricks or jokes on other people. tree →

In the lessons

In stories a prankster is often a cheeky, funny character who sets up tricks like a whoopee cushion or a bucket of water over a door. In everyday life and safety, a good prank makes everyone laugh, including the person tricked; a prank that scares, hurts, damages things or embarrasses someone is not funny. April Fools' pranks are common. Phrases: a class prankster, a famous prankster.

Examples

• My cousin is the family prankster. tree →
• The prankster hid a rubber spider in the lunchbox. tree →
• Everyone knew the prankster had swapped the salt and sugar. tree →
• A good prankster knows when to stop. tree →
• The teacher caught the prankster in the act. tree →
• Some pranksters go too far and hurt people. tree →

Note

Countable: a prankster, pranksters. Related words: prank (the trick), to prank someone. A prankster is not the same as a bully: a bully wants to hurt; a prankster wants a laugh — but if the other person is upset, the prank has gone wrong.