stratagem

[strat-uh-juhm]

noun

1. a plan, scheme, or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy.

2. any artifice, ruse, or trick devised or used to attain a goal or to gain an advantage over an adversary or competitor.

   business stratagems.

   Synonyms: contrivance, maneuver, device, intrigue, deception

stratagem

/ ˈstrætɪdʒəm /

noun

1. a plan or trick, esp one to deceive an enemy

Other Word Forms

• stratagemical adjective
• stratagemically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratagem¹

1480–90; (< Middle French stratageme ) < Italian stratagemma war ruse < Latin stratēgēma < Greek stratḗgēma instance of generalship, derivative of stratēgeîn to be in command, derivative of stratēgós military commander ( strategy )

Word History and Origins

Origin of stratagem¹

C15: ultimately from Greek stratēgos a general, from stratos an army + agein to lead

Synonym Study

See trick.

Example Sentences

Populism has been a stratagem of the wealthy, using cultural dog whistles to keep large numbers of non-wealthy people from thinking about who makes the big money, and who pays.

From Salon

The competitors are in a trancelike state, building a stratagem.

From Los Angeles Times

Thankfully, we are at a point now where so many journalists and academics recognize that the chaos was a smokescreen, designed to cover very well-laid-out plans that had a rationale stratagem.

From Salon

There are discussions among the monsters about feelings and how it’s OK to have them, even the sad and bad ones, along with some simple stratagems for dealing with them.

From Los Angeles Times

Will Toranaga let his old friend kill himself in order to perpetuate what might be a carefully constructed stratagem?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gimmick 
• one-upmanship 
• ploy 
• ruse 
• subterfuge 
• wile