stratagem

[ strat-uh-juhm ]

noun

1. a plan, scheme, or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy.
2. any artifice, ruse, or trick devised or used to attain a goal or to gain an advantage over an adversary or competitor:

   business stratagems.

   Synonyms: contrivance, maneuver, device, intrigue, deception

stratagem

/ ˈstrætɪdʒəm /

noun

1. a plan or trick, esp one to deceive an enemy

Other Words From

• strat·a·gem·i·cal [strat-, uh, -, jem, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• strata·gemi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratagem¹

1480–90; (< Middle French stratageme ) < Italian stratagemma war ruse < Latin stratēgēma < Greek stratḗgēma instance of generalship, derivative of stratēgeîn to be in command, derivative of stratēgós military commander ( strategy )

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratagem¹

C15: ultimately from Greek stratēgos a general, from stratos an army + agein to lead

Synonym Study

See trick.

Example Sentences

“Texas has employed an array of stratagems designed to shield its unconstitutional law from judicial review,” Roberts wrote.

From Washington Post

This was the stratagem of leftists everywhere for a long, long time.

From The Daily Beast

Mao was a master of the ancient Empty City Stratagem, which seeks to conceal weakness with a show of confidence, even aggression.

From The Daily Beast

The stratagem worked, because the ships went about from one tack to the other without being seen by the Dutch.

From Project Gutenberg

But I always suspected it was a stratagem on his part to avoid playing, and that nothing really ailed him.

From Project Gutenberg

Aunty Rosa had credited him in the past with petty cunning and stratagem that had never entered into his head.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady Arabella Seymour escaped from confinement in the tower of London by stratagem.

From Project Gutenberg

Rabelais was not more cunning when he hit upon his stratagem for getting carried to Paris.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• gimmick
• one-upmanship
• ploy
• ruse
• subterfuge
• wile