master plan

¹ American  

noun

1. a general plan or program for achieving an objective.

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master-plan ² American  

[mas-ter-plan, mah-ster-] / ˈmæs tərˌplæn, ˈmɑ stər- /

verb (used with object)

master-planned, master-planning

1. to construct a master plan for.

   to master-plan one's career.

2. to develop or improve (land, a community, a building complex, or the like) through a long-range plan that balances and harmonizes all elements.

   The engineers master-planned the island to provide for increases in the tourist population.

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master plan British  

noun

1. a comprehensive long-term strategy

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Etymology

Origin of master plan

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The master plan doesn’t set out to pay for itself—the project would require a major public subsidy.

From The Wall Street Journal

California and New York have developed master plans for aging.

From MarketWatch

The city is still waiting for a recovery road map from a consultant hired in June to develop the master plan.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a master plan released over summer, the company laid out a vision in which artificial intelligence, robotics and energy storage systems eliminate scarcity.

From The Wall Street Journal

Carney’s master plan for breaking U.S. dependency—extracting more natural resources and diversifying their export—will take years at best, and he may not be making the best start.

From Barron's

Related Words

• blueprint
• scheme