stratagem

noun

strat·​a·​gem ˈstra-tə-jəm 

-ˌjem

1

a

: an artifice or trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy

b

: a cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end

2

: skill in ruses or trickery

Did you know?

A stratagem is any clever scheme—sometimes one that's part of an overall strategy (i.e., a carefully worked out plan of action). The word stratagem entered English in the 15th century and was originally used in reference to some artifice, such as a military plan or maneuver, which was designed to deceive or outwit the enemy. This military sense can be traced back to the word's Greek ancestor stratēgēma, which is itself based on stratēgein, meaning "to act as a general." Stratēgein, in turn, comes from stratēgos (meaning "general"), which comes from stratos ("camp" or "army") and agein ("to lead"). Stratēgos is an ancestor of strategy as well.

Synonyms

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• jig
• juggle
• knack
• play
• ploy
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• trick
• wile

Choose the Right Synonym for stratagem

trick, ruse, stratagem, maneuver, artifice, wile, feint mean an indirect means to gain an end.

trick may imply deception, roguishness, illusion, and either an evil or harmless end.

the tricks of the trade

ruse stresses an attempt to mislead by a false impression.

the ruses of smugglers

stratagem implies a ruse used to entrap, outwit, circumvent, or surprise an opponent or enemy.

the stratagem-filled game

maneuver suggests adroit and skillful avoidance of difficulty.

last-minute maneuvers to avert bankruptcy

artifice implies ingenious contrivance or invention.

the clever artifices of the stage

wile suggests an attempt to entrap or deceive with false allurements.

used all of his wiles to ingratiate himself

feint implies a diversion or distraction of attention away from one's real intent.

a feint toward the enemy's left flank

Examples of stratagem in a Sentence

tried various stratagems to get the cat into the carrier, but the feisty feline was wise to them all

Recent Examples on the Web

Hindenburg, in his mid-eighties and growing weak, became fed up with Schleicher’s Machiavellian stratagems and dispensed with him as Chancellor. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024

Sociology is simply a bullet point in political stratagems seeking to dismantle American institutions from the inside out. —Carol J. Petty, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2024

Palestinians have also been the victims of another, much more sinister stratagem—their deliberate dehumanization. —Laila El-Haddad, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023

The football stratagem is seen as a one-time-only maneuver made due to extraordinary circumstances. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Italian stratagemma, from Latin strategema, from Greek stratēgēma, from stratēgein to be a general, maneuver, from stratēgos general, from stratos camp, army (akin to Latin stratus, past participle, spread out) + agein to lead — more at stratum, agent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

stratagem

noun

strat·​a·​gem ˈstrat-ə-jəm 

1

: a trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy

2

: a clever trick or scheme