practical joke

American  

noun

• practical jokes
  plural

1. a playful trick, often involving some physical agent or means, in which the victim is placed in an embarrassing or disadvantageous position.

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practical joke British  

noun

1. a prank or trick usually intended to make the victim appear foolish

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• practical joker
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• practical jokes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of practical joke

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

practical joke

Jason Hughes, 40, came out of his home to surprise the students who were tossing toilet papers over trees as part of a practical joke.

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 2026

It took decades, but the plate came to light for what it was — a prank played on a historian by his fellow historians, a practical joke that got way out of hand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025

Was it all some kind of practical joke?

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2023

It's almost as if McCarthy was playing some kind of elaborate practical joke.

From Salon ● Feb. 22, 2023

“If this is a practical joke ...” He slowed the car.

From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury

Related Words

• prank