scheme

American  

[skeem] / skim /

noun

1. a plan, design, or program of action to be followed; project.

2. an underhand plot; intrigue.

   Synonyms:

   conspiracy, cabal, stratagem

3. a visionary or impractical project.

4. a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc..

   a scheme of philosophy.

5. any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement.

   Synonyms:

   schema, pattern

6. a plan, program, or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business.

   The company's pension scheme is very successful.

7. an analytical or tabular statement.

8. a diagram, map, or the like.

9. an astrological diagram of the heavens.

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verb (used with object)

schemed, scheming

1. to devise as a scheme; conspire; plot; contrive.

verb (used without object)

schemed, scheming

1. to lay schemes; devise plans; plot.

scheme British  

/ skiːm /

noun

1. a systematic plan for a course of action

2. a systematic arrangement of correlated parts; system

3. a secret plot

4. a visionary or unrealizable project

5. a chart, diagram, or outline

6. an astrological diagram giving the aspects of celestial bodies at a particular time

7. a plan formally adopted by a commercial enterprise or governmental body, as for pensions, etc

8. an area of housing that is laid out esp by a local authority; estate

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verb

1. (tr) to devise a system for

2. to form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner

scheme Idioms  

1. see best-laid plans (schemes).

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Related Words

See plan. See plot.

Other Word Forms

• outscheme verb (used with object)
• schemeless adjective
• schemer noun
• subscheme noun
• underscheme noun
• unschemed adjective

Etymology

Origin of scheme

First recorded in 1545–55; from Medieval Latin schēma (stem schēmat- ), from Greek schêma “form, figure”

Example Sentences

The scheme started after the EU's Common Agricultural Policy began calculating subsidies based on land instead of livestock in 2014.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

It is, in other words, completely meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

The scheme involved Bondi sending a letter to Gov. Tim Walz, requesting the state’s voter roll information, claiming that it would help with immigration enforcement.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2026

The Trump administration is preparing to overhaul its tariff scheme for steel and aluminum, The Wall Street Journal reported this week, but the changes aren’t expected to affect imported commodity-grade metals.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Then it will be Lavinia’s turn to be mad as a hornet—unless she discovers your clever scheme and, gentle as a lamb and sweet as a kitten, somehow persuades you to share.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• arrangement
• blueprint
• design
• device
• game plan
• pattern
• plan
• program
• project
• proposal
• strategy
• system
• theory