scheme

[skeem]

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.

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

/ 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

verb

1. (tr) to devise a system for

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scheme¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scheme¹

C16: from Latin schema, from Greek skhēma form

Idioms and Phrases

see best-laid plans (schemes).

Synonym Study

See plan. See plot.

Example Sentences

Also confirmed is an expansion of the Help to Save scheme, which incentivises people on low incomes to save money.

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More people on low incomes will be encouraged to save through a scheme that offers a large government bonus, the Treasury has announced.

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Critics have been calling for the government to address the rising cost of the Motability scheme, which allows people on certain disability benefits to lease vehicles more cheaply, ahead of Wednesday's Budget.

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A scheme to provide free school meals to all state primary school children in London has given out 100 million lunches, City Hall says.

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Details are scant, but according to French media the scheme would be voluntary, remunerated and last 10 months.

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Related Words

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