gambit

American  

[gam-bit] / ˈgæm bɪt /

noun

1. Chess. an opening in which a player seeks to obtain some advantage by sacrificing a pawn or piece.

2. any maneuver by which one seeks to gain an advantage.

   Synonyms:

   ruse, scheme, stratagem, ploy

3. a remark made to open or redirect a conversation.

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gambit British  

/ ˈɡæmbɪt /

noun

1. chess an opening move in which a chessman, usually a pawn, is sacrificed to secure an advantageous position

2. an opening comment, manoeuvre, etc, intended to secure an advantage or promote a point of view

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Etymology

Origin of gambit

1650–60; < French < Spanish gambito or Italian gambetto (akin to Old French gambet, jambet ), equivalent to gamb ( a ) leg + -etta -et

Example Sentences

Since Haas became CEO in 2022, Arm has been aggressively pursuing revenue growth through price hikes and bundling, and the latest gambit is another move to keep that momentum going.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

An obvious opening gambit: You need an attorney who specializes in elder financial abuse rather than estate planning.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Few people lobbied Trump to undertake the riskiest gambit of his presidency as effectively as the hawkish and persistent Graham, who over a decade has held a sometimes close, sometimes tumultuous relationship with Trump.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Sedaka’s gambit paid off: “Oh! Carol” was a Top 10 hit, popular enough to generate an answer record — King’s husband, Gerry Goffin, wrote “Oh! Neil,” which failed to be a hit for King.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

I realized immediately that no one had told her about our gambit.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela