caper

¹ American  

[key-per] / ˈkeɪ pər /

verb (used without object)

1. to leap or skip about in a sprightly manner; prance; frisk; gambol.

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noun

1. a playful leap or skip.

2. a prank or trick; harebrained escapade.

   Synonyms:

   antic, stunt

3. a frivolous, carefree episode or activity.

   Synonyms:

   frolic, spree

4. Slang. a criminal or illegal act, as a burglary or robbery.

idioms

1. cut a caper. cut.

caper ² American  

[key-per] / ˈkeɪ pər /

noun

1. a spiny shrub, Capparis spinosa, of Mediterranean regions, having roundish leaves and solitary white flowers.

2. its flower bud, which is pickled and used for garnish or seasoning.

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caper ¹ British  

/ ˈkeɪpə /

noun

1. a playful skip or leap

2. a high-spirited escapade

3. 1. to skip or jump playfully

   2. to act or behave playfully; frolic

4. slang a crime, esp an organized robbery

5. informal a job or occupation

6. informal a person's behaviour

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verb

1. (intr) to leap or dance about in a light-hearted manner

caper ² British  

/ ˈkeɪpə /

noun

1. a spiny trailing Mediterranean capparidaceous shrub, Capparis spinosa, with edible flower buds

2. any of various similar plants or their edible parts See also bean caper capers

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Other Word Forms

• caperer
  noun
• caperingly
  adverb
• uncapering
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of caper¹

First recorded in 1585–95; probably shortening and alteration of capriole ( def. )

Origin of caper²

1350–1400; back formation from capers (taken for plural), Middle English caperes < Latin capparis < Greek kápparis

Explanation

A goofy little joke or prank, a crime, or a ridiculous adventure is called a caper. For example, your quest for an American newspaper turned into a caper that took you all over the Irish countryside. Caper originates from the Italian word capriolare, meaning “jump in the air,” and indeed, one meaning is "frolicking play or light-hearted dancing." Little kids like to caper at family parties — it gets them tons of attention. Other kinds of capers might get you jail time because a caper can also be an outlandish crime spree, or a wild activity. Finally, capers are the very flavorful pickled flower bud found in Mediterranean cooking.

Example Sentences

Why is The Great Muppet Caper the best of these films??

From Slate • Oct. 25, 2025

Canadian Caper was both inspired by Hollywood and relied on Hollywood talent.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2025

Eventually, President Jimmy Carter approved the Canadian Caper - a plan which would see Mendez and Johnson pose as Canadian filmmakers scouting locations for a supposed Star Wars spin-off called Argo.

From BBC • Sep. 10, 2024

Coro, a specialty cured-meat producer out of Seattle, makes interesting offerings like Plum Mustard, Giardiniera Relish, and Herb and Caper Spread designed to pair up with salumis.

From Washington Times • Jul. 18, 2023

But I don’t want that frame as a reminder, so I say, “What self-respecting Caper would have a frame that says Cape Cod?”

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt