A prank used to mean a practical joke, but the definition has slightly changed in the age of the youtube 'prank' video.

Nowadays a prank means saying provocative shit to someone, while secretly recording them, and then screaming "it's a prank, bro, it's a prank" when you elicit a violent response.
(Youtube Prankster approaches a girl walking with her boyfriend)
YP: DAMNNNNNN! Look at those melons. Can I please put my face in those melons?
Random girl: What the fuck?
(The expected happens and the girl and/or her boyfriend react violently to this sexual harrassment)
YP (after getting a slap in the face): It's a prank, bro, it's a prank. Look there's a camera right there! It's not sexual harassment if the camera's on.

Our youtube hero continues on his humorous adventures. This time, he is joined by a athletic looking black guy who looks like he can throw a punch.

YP: Yo! You wanna hear a joke?
Black Guy: Yeah!
YP: What does a black guy do after sex?
BG: What?
YP: 15 to life! hue hue hue.
BG: (Smacks our hero in the face)
YP: It's a prank, bro, it's a prank. It's not racist, bro, the camera's on.
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A practical joke. There are the pranksters and the victims, the idea of pranks are to make people laugh, In some cases, even the victim (The good type).

Pranks are common on YouTube, they gain controversy which is usually the YouTuber's intention. More Controversy = More Views = More revenue.

This is, like many, a word that has lost its meaning through the years and has gotten worse and worse.

Silly -> Slight Inconvenience -> Bullying -> "Social Experiment".
Ethan decided that he would prank innocent shoppers by spitting food on the floor and shouting at the top of his lungs.
by SanicLeHegHog February 26, 2017
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A word to say when something doesn't go according to plan. E.g
*Robs a bank*

Police: I'ma shoot you
You: It's a prank
Police: You're free to go
by wordexpert123 December 22, 2015
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n. v. A mean spirited or malicious practical joke. Often pranks are aimed towards authority figures or disliked peers. Embarassing or painful to the prankee, but normally not fatal.
by Eatthebottles April 22, 2004
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Yo so today we're gonna prank some black people by asking them to have sex with them.
by ClusterFuck October 12, 2015
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A "Practical Joke" done by white people to only get their ass kicked by black people.
STOP IT, STOP IT! *sobbing* IT'S JUST A PRANK BRO, STOP IT!
by BeerChuggerWhoCantDrink December 5, 2016
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