nightcap
Americannoun
-
Informal. an alcoholic drink taken at bedtime or at the end of a festive evening.
-
a cap for the head, intended primarily to be worn in bed.
-
Sports Informal. the last event of the program for the day, especially the second game of a doubleheader in baseball or the last race of the day in horse racing.
noun
-
a bedtime drink, esp an alcoholic or hot one
-
a soft cap formerly worn in bed
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of nightcap
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at night, cap 1
Vocabulary lists containing nightcap
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That gin martini nightcap at the luxe Savoy hotel looks less appealing at $38 rather than £28.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
When Erivo’s concert ended on opening night, a cheerful crowd of more than 800 people rushed into the darkened streets looking for a nightcap and a bite to eat.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
The nightcap was a Black Sabbath reunion featuring guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.
From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025
The All-Star catcher has three homers in the last two games — he connected in the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep.
From Seattle Times • May 29, 2024
“Can I bring you anything before you go to sleep? A nightcap? More blankets?”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
