stratagem
[strat-uh-juhm]
noun
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.
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 for stratagem
Synonym study
1, 2. See trick.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Related Words for stratagem
ploy, ruse, one-upmanship, subterfuge, wile, gimmick, brainchild, artifice, scene, twist, proposition, pitch, racket, pretext, plot, story, angle, scheme, method, dodgeExamples from the Web for stratagem
Contemporary Examples of stratagem
This was the stratagem of leftists everywhere for a long, long time.
Historical Examples of stratagem
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
noun
Word Origin for stratagem
C15: ultimately from Greek stratēgos a general, from stratos an army + agein to lead
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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