stratagem
[strat-uh-juh m]
- a plan, scheme, or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy.
- any artifice, ruse, or trick devised or used to attain a goal or to gain an advantage over an adversary or competitor: business stratagems.
Show More
Origin of stratagem
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 (see strategy)
Synonyms
See more synonyms for stratagem on Thesaurus.com2. deception, intrigue, device, maneuver, contrivance.
Synonym study
1, 2. See trick.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for stratagem
Contemporary Examples
This was the stratagem of leftists everywhere for a long, long time.
Historical Examples
They could not understand the motive, and feared a stratagem.
The Story of the Malakand Field ForceSir Winston S. Churchill
Will they not suspect, when once introduced to you, the stratagem that has been adopted?
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
He merely wished to keep us here a little while until he could by stratagem outflank us.
FreelandTheodor Hertzka
The stratagem of the wily savage was thus perfectly successful.
King PhilipJohn S. C. (John Stevens Cabot) Abbott
They resort to every stratagem which a vile and savage spirit could inspire.
Three Years in the Federal CavalryWillard Glazier
stratagem
- a plan or trick, esp one to deceive an enemy
Show More
Word Origin
C15: ultimately from Greek stratēgos a general, from stratos an army + agein to lead
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for stratagem
n.
"artifice, trick," late 15c., from Middle French stratagème "trick, especially to outwit an enemy," from Italian stratagemma, from Latin strategema "artifice, stratagem," from Greek strategema "the act of a general, military stratagem," from strategein "to be a general, command," from strategos "general" (see strategy).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper