To play hooky means to skip school or work without permission, usually to do something more fun. When students play hooky, they might spend the day at the park, the movies, or just hanging out at home instead of sitting in class where they're supposed to be.

The word has a sneaky, mischievous feeling to it. Playing hooky isn't the same as staying home sick or taking a planned vacation day. It's the deliberate choice to avoid your responsibilities and hope nobody notices you're gone. A kid might play hooky on a beautiful spring day when being outdoors feels more appealing than math class.

Playing hooky can create problems: you miss important lessons, your teachers and parents may lose trust in you, and you have to catch up on whatever you missed. Schools take attendance seriously, and parents usually find out eventually.