strategy

[strat-i-jee]

noun

plural

strategies 

1. Also the science or art of combining and employing the means of war in planning and directing large military movements and operations.

2. the use or an instance of using this science or art.

3. skillful use of a stratagem.

   The salesperson's strategy was to seem always to agree with the customer.

4. a plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems for obtaining a specific goal or result.

   a strategy for getting ahead in the world.

strategy

/ ˈstrætɪdʒɪ /

noun

1. the art or science of the planning and conduct of a war; generalship

2. a particular long-term plan for success, esp in business or politics Compare tactics

3. a plan or stratagem

Other Word Forms

• counterstrategy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of strategy¹

First recorded in 1680–90; from Greek stratēgía “generalship,” equivalent to stratēg(os) “military commander, general” ( strat(ós) “army” + -ēgos, noun derivative of ágein “to lead”) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of strategy¹

C17: from French stratégie, from Greek stratēgia function of a general; see _stratagem

Synonym Study

In military usage, a distinction is made between strategy and tactics. Strategy is the utilization, during both peace and war, of all of a nation's forces, through large-scale, long-range planning and development, to ensure security or victory. Tactics deals with the use and deployment of troops in actual combat.

Example Sentences

"I don't think it would make a real difference unless it's part of a much broader strategy that includes education, community support, and more consistent enforcement of the laws and standards that already exist."

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"We have global over capacity, unfair competition, state aid, and undercutting in prices and we are reacting to that", Stéphane Séjourné, the European Commission's executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy.

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But subsequent academic analyses found mixed evidence for the strategy.

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County Fire Department, use goats and sheep as part of wildfire management strategies.

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In recent years, South East Asian countries have launched recruitment drives for naturalised players, hoping to emulate Indonesia's strategy of recruiting Dutch-born footballers from the Indonesian diaspora.

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Related Words

• action 
• approach 
• blueprint 
• design 
• game plan 
• method 
• plan 
• planning 
• policy 
• procedure 
• program 
• project 
• scenario 
• scheme 
• system 

When To Use

What is strategy?

A strategy is a plan or method put in place to achieve a goal or result, as in Blanca’s strategy for passing the test was to study every night until test day.Strategy can refer to the use of tactics in the planning of military operations, usually to succeed in a battle or war. In a military context, a strategy can refer to an overall plan, a specific or broad goal, or the execution of said plan or goal.Strategy can also refer to the use of a strategy to meet a goal, as in The only way to win a war is with a solid strategy.Example: Their strategy was to distract the enemy and then sneak in from behind.