Five-Year Plan

American  

[fahyv-yeer] / ˈfaɪvˌjɪər /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. any plan for national economic or industrial development specifying goals to be reached within a period of five years, especially as undertaken by the Soviet Union and China.

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Five-Year Plan British  

noun

1. (formerly in socialist economies) a government plan for economic development over a period of five years

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Etymology

Origin of Five-Year Plan

1925–30; originally probably as translation of Russian pyatilétka

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Five-Year Plan

China’s latest Five-Year Plan explicitly designates it as one of seven “future industries” set to drive national growth.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

International efforts to lead the quantum race have taken center stage, including China’s ambitious Five-Year Plan, which is targeting a nationwide quantum network by 2030.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, released just after the war started, called for becoming an “energy powerhouse” through “strategic resilience” and “technological sovereignty” with non-fossil sources.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

This is a key focus of the country's new 15th Five-Year Plan, which sees technology not just as an economic priority but as a strategic one given tensions with the US.

From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026

One of the major goals of the second Five-Year Plan was to multiply the number of civil air routes across the USSR, covering extreme distances and connecting the far-flung corners of the huge country.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• blueprint
• scheme