escapade

noun

es·​ca·​pade ˈe-skə-ˌpād How to pronounce escapade (audio)
: a usually adventurous action that runs counter to approved or conventional conduct

Did you know?

When it was first used in English, escapade referred to an act of escaping or fleeing from confinement or restraint. The relationship between escape and escapade does not end there. Both words derive from the Vulgar Latin verb excappare, meaning "to escape," a product of the Latin prefix ex- and the Late Latin noun cappa, meaning "head covering or cloak." While escape took its route through Anglo-French and Middle English, however, escapade made its way into English by way of the Spanish escapar ("to escape") and the French escapade.

Examples of escapade in a Sentence

As a teenager he embarked on a series of ill-advised escapades. their escapades at the prep school became the stuff of boarding-school legend
Recent Examples on the Web As the escapade ensues, so does the comedy and the tug-and-pull relationship between Sandler and Aniston’s characters. Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 The Marbles Kids Museum and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences are must-visit spots for curious kiddos, while Pullen Park is the spot for outdoor escapades. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 The celebrated revival of the race in 2019, following a significant hiatus, marks a new era for this icy escapade, beckoning Porsche, among other illustrious car brands, to brave the glacial circuits once more. Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The allure of a cozy bed beckons, promising a night filled with dreams and the anticipation of an early morning escapade in the clouds. Day 2 Up, Up, and Away Good morning, fellow adventurers! Branded Content Contributor, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2024 What many may not realize is that amid his notorious escapades, Dillinger and his gang met an unexpected fate in Tucson. The Arizona Republic, 15 Jan. 2024 But fret not, dear travelers, for our escapade is far from its conclusion. Branded Content Contributor, Orange County Register, 8 Jan. 2024 The show stars Iain Armitage as the adolescent version of Jim Parsons' Big Bang Theory protagonist, Sheldon Cooper, and follows his escapades as a child prodigy in East Texas in the 1980s and '90s. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 Nov. 2023 The Chiefs kept the party going into the wee hours (5:15 a.m. to be exact) and to fuel their celebratory escapades, Swift, 34, and Kelce, also 34, enjoyed some chicken fingers together, per the Vegas nightclub. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'escapade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, action of escaping, from Spanish escapada, from escapar to escape, from Vulgar Latin *excappare

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of escapade was in 1667

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Dictionary Entries Near escapade

Cite this Entry

“Escapade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escapade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

escapade

noun
es·​ca·​pade ˈes-kə-ˌpād How to pronounce escapade (audio)
: a mischievous adventure

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