What does "rascal" mean?
A dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
Rascal
/ˈɹɑːskl̩/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
- Grammar: rascal is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: scamp, imp, scoundrel, affectionate address.
- Useful contrasts: angel, cold address, formal address.
- Usage evidence: What rascal dared to break the door to the royal room?
How to use "rascal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rascal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rascal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rascal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rascal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rascal" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "scamp" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rascal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A dishonest person; a rogue, a scoundrel, a trickster.
"Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? / Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. / Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]"
- 2 one who is playfully mischievous wordnet
- 3 A cheeky person or creature; a troublemaker.
"That little rascal bit me!"
- 4 a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel wordnet
- 5 A member of a criminal gang. Papua-New-Guinea
Adjective
- 1 Low; lowly, part of or belonging to the common rabble. archaic
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"What rascal dared to break the door to the royal room?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rascal"?
Common synonyms include: scamp, imp, scoundrel, affectionate address, atlas, bad boy.
How do you use "rascal" in a sentence?
What rascal dared to break the door to the royal room?
How do you pronounce "rascal"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɑːskl̩/.
Etymology
Recorded since c.1330, as Middle English rascaile (“people of the lowest class, rabble of an army”), derived from 12th century Old French rascaille (“outcast, rabble”) (modern French racaille), perhaps from rasque (“mud, filth, scab, dregs”), from Vulgar Latin *rasicō (“to scrape”). The singular form is first attested in 1461; the present extended sense of "low, dishonest person" is from early 1586.