scavenger hunt

American  

noun

1. a game in which individuals or teams are sent out to accumulate, without purchasing, a series of common, outlandish, or humorous objects, the winner being the person or team returning first with all the items.

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scavenger hunt British  

noun

1. a game in which players are required to collect an assortment of miscellaneous items: usually played outdoors

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Etymology

Origin of scavenger hunt

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40

Compare meaning

How does scavenger-hunt compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• scavenger hunt vs. treasure hunt

Example Sentences

Finding the best pint in a given city has become a digital scavenger hunt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

It’s the reason meal kits feel so soothing — everything ready, nothing frantic, no mid-recipe scavenger hunt for a missing clove of garlic.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

A “death file” should contain essential documents such as birth and marriage certificates, divorce decrees, life insurance policies, and a list of financial accounts to prevent a scavenger hunt for information.

From Barron's • Nov. 9, 2025

The point of a scavenger hunt is not to produce anything of value; the items on the list don’t add up to any coherent, meaningful narrative.

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025

But she didn’t know how Mr. Griswold’s scavenger hunt was supposed to work—did this man know about it and he had a clue waiting for them?

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman