What does devilment mean?
Devilment is an informal noun meaning playful or reckless mischief — high-spirited naughtiness that may be exasperating but is rarely truly wicked. The word suggests behaviour with a touch of impudence or roguery: children plotting pranks, friends stirring up trouble for fun, or a mischievous twinkle betraying some scheme. It is used chiefly in British and Irish English, and it typically carries an affectionate or amused connotation rather than a condemnatory one; calling someone full of devilment implies charm as much as fault. Common contexts include descriptions of lively children, rogues, and characters in fiction whose antics enliven a story. Related words such as devilry and deviltry exist, but those tend to imply harsher or even sinister wrongdoing, while devilment stays firmly on the light side of troublemaking. For writers seeking a vivid, characterful alternative to 'mischief', it remains a colourful choice.
nounPlayful or reckless mischief; wild, high-spirited behaviour, often with a hint of wickedness.
- Wild, playful mischievousness or high-spirited naughtiness.
"There was a glint of devilment in his eyes as he hid the keys."
"The children's devilment kept their grandmother laughing all afternoon."
"He was a quiet man at work, but at weekends he was known for his devilment on the rugby pitch."
Rarely used in the plural; the word normally appears as an uncountable mass noun referring to mischief in general.
"His childhood devilments became family legend."
It's the only everyday word that lets you call someone a devil — and mean it affectionately.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of devilment
Devilment derives from 'devil' — ultimately from Greek diabolos, meaning 'slanderer' or 'accuser' — combined with the noun-forming suffix '-ment'. It arose in English in the 18th century, alongside similar coinages such as devilry and deviltry, to describe devil-like or mischievous conduct. Its use has remained strongest in British and Irish English.
How devilment is actually used
Informal and often affectionate in tone; common in British and especially Irish English, where it can describe anything from harmless pranks to unruly behaviour without implying real malice.
Easily confused with devilment
Devilry means evil or cruel conduct, often supernatural in flavour, whereas devilment usually denotes playful, mischievous high spirits rather than genuine wickedness.