nightcap

noun

night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap How to pronounce nightcap (audio)
Synonyms of nightcapnext
1
: a cloth cap worn with nightclothes
2
: a usually alcoholic drink taken at the end of the day
3
: the final race or contest of a day's sports
especially : the second game of a baseball doubleheader

Examples of nightcap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After dinner, unwind with a nightcap at the Leta bar or head up to your room with its coastal furnishings, plush bed, and turntable. — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026 Then, in the nightcap, Haaland tallied twice and Norway hung on to a 3-2 victory over Senegal. — David K. Li, NBC news, 23 June 2026 His roster construction of the 2026 Mets mirrors the team’s performance in Wednesday night’s nightcap. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 June 2026 As a nightcap, the two soccer heavyweights – Netherlands and Morocco – played a bloody 120 minutes, which also ended in PKs. — Alex Connor, USA Today, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nightcap

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nightcap was in the 14th century

Rhymes for nightcap

See All Rhymes for nightcap

Browse Nearby Words

night bolt
nightcap
night cart
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nightcap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nightcap. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nightcap

noun
night·​cap ˈnīt-ˌkap How to pronounce nightcap (audio)
1
: a cap worn with nightclothes
2
: a drink taken at bedtime
3
: the final race or contest of a day's sports activities

More from Merriam-Webster on nightcap

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nightcap

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