1. mischievous or playfully troublesome people, especially children
Usage: informal; often used affectionately
2. dishonest or unscrupulous people
Usage: informal
3. white Southerners who supported Reconstruction after the Civil War
Usage: historical; often considered derogatory

Examples

• Those little scalawags tracked mud all through the house.
• The teacher smiled as she watched the scalawags play pranks on each other.
• The mayor called the corrupt officials a bunch of scalawags.
• Don’t trust those scalawags with your money.
• During Reconstruction, many Southerners viewed their neighbors as scalawags.
• The political cartoon depicted the scalawags working with Northern carpetbaggers.