Mischief
collective noun /ˈmɪstʃɪf/ — A group of mice — perfectly named for creatures that sneak.
Definition
The collective noun for a group of mice. The name captures both their behaviour and the feeling they inspire in anyone who encounters them unexpectedly.
Beyond the definition
Mischief as a collective noun is playfully perfect. Mice aren't malicious — they're opportunistic, clever, and they tend to appear where they're least expected. The word captures exactly that energy.
Origin & history
From Old French meschief — misfortune, mishap (mes- 'wrong' + chief 'head'). The playful meaning of mischief developed over time. Applied to mice: a group that causes small, chaotic havoc wherever they go.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
A mischief of mice had found their way into the pantry — nothing was where they'd left it.
The children formed their own mischief as they raided the biscuit tin.
The farmer smiled at the word — yes, a mischief was exactly right.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Mischief” when the meaning fits your context: The collective noun for a group of mice. The name captures both their behaviour and the feeling they inspire in anyone who encounters them unexpectedly.
Synonyms
group, colony, nest
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Word in focus
A mischief of mice
A mischief of mice tucked into seed heads side by side.
Mischief is a playful collective name for mice. These two pet mice are eating together; the name does not mean they are doing anything wrong.
Image credit: Tiia Monto · CC BY-SA 3.0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; full composition retained.
Questions about this word
What does "Mischief" mean?
Mischief is collective noun meaning: A group of mice — perfectly named for creatures that sneak.. The collective noun for a group of mice. The name captures both their behaviour and the feeling they inspire in anyone who encounters them unexpectedly.
Where does the word "Mischief" come from?
From Old French meschief — misfortune, mishap (mes- 'wrong' + chief 'head'). The playful meaning of mischief developed over time. Applied to mice: a group that causes small, chaotic havoc wherever they go.