stratagem

[ strat-uh-juhm ]
/ ˈstræt ə dʒəm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR stratagem ON THESAURUS.COM

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)

synonym study for stratagem

1, 2. See trick.

OTHER WORDS FROM stratagem

strat·a·gem·i·cal [strat-uh-jem-i-kuhl] /ˌstræt əˈdʒɛm ɪ kəl/, adjective strat·a·gem·i·cal·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH stratagem

stratagem strategy

Words nearby stratagem

strasberg, strasbourg, strass, strata, strata title, stratagem, stratal, strategic, strategic air command, strategic arms limitation talks, strategics

Words related to stratagem

ploy, ruse, one-upmanship, subterfuge, wile, gimmick, brainchild, artifice, scene, twist, proposition, pitch, racket, pretext, plot, story, angle, scheme, method, dodge

Example sentences from the Web for stratagem

British Dictionary definitions for stratagem

stratagem
/ (ˈstrætɪdʒəm) /

noun

a plan or trick, esp one to deceive an enemy

Word Origin for stratagem

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