scavenger hunt

American  

noun

• scavenger hunts
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• scavenger hunts
  plural

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

See Examples For:

scavenger hunt

But overall, it’s an inventive conceit for a scavenger hunt that prompts Felix and Marigold to re-examine their surroundings, recording the sounds of summer as they go.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

An anonymous someone has set up a scavenger hunt with sound-related clues for the pair to solve, plus an additional challenge: “Record what’s all around.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 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

In August, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani hosted a citywide scavenger hunt, inviting voters to scour the boroughs in search of historic political sites.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 2025

We’d leave each other notes and scavenger hunt clues and other random stuff.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison