escapade

[es-kuh-peyd, es-kuh-peyd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR escapade ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a reckless adventure or wild prank.

an escape from confinement or restraint.

Origin of escapade

1645–55; < French < Spanish escapada, equivalent to escap(ar) to escape + -ada -ade¹

Synonyms for escapade

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR escapade ON THESAURUS.COM

caper, antic, caprice.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for escapade

antic, fling, caper, mischief, vagary, romp, shenanigans, folly, roguery, trick, gag, scrape, lark, stunt, spree, frolic, rib, prank, rollick

Examples from the Web for escapade

Historical Examples of escapade

The only dread she had was of the discovery of her escapade by the hospital authorities.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Shandy's escapade with Diablo had brought a new trouble to Mike Gaynor.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
She was convinced that the escapade was important, though it would have puzzled her to say why.
Howards End
E. M. Forster
Recommend him to be more prudent in future if he wishes me to forget his escapade at Tavora.
The Snare
Rafael Sabatini
What could be the objection, even were the escapade to be discovered by misadventure?
Nobody
Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for escapade

escapade

noun

a wild or exciting adventure, esp one that is mischievous or unlawful; scrape

any lighthearted or carefree episode; prank; romp

Word Origin for escapade

C17: from French, from Old Italian scappata, from Vulgar Latin ex-cappāre (unattested) to escape

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for escapade

1650s, "an escape from confinement," from French escapade (16c.) "a prank or trick," from Spanish escapada "a prank, flight, an escape," noun use of fem. past participle of escapar "to escape," from Vulgar Latin *excappare (see escape). Or perhaps the French word is via Italian scappata, from scappare, from the same Vulgar Latin source. Figurative sense (1814) is of "breaking loose" from rules or restraints on behavior.