STRATAGEM

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does stratagem mean? 

• STRATAGEM (noun)
  The noun STRATAGEM has 2 senses:

1. a maneuver in a game or conversation

2. an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade

  Familiarity information: STRATAGEM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRATAGEM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A maneuver in a game or conversation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

gambit; ploy; stratagem

Hypernyms ("stratagem" is a kind of...):

maneuver; manoeuvre; tactical maneuver; tactical manoeuvre (a move made to gain a tactical end)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

contrivance; dodge; stratagem

Context example:

his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track

Hypernyms ("stratagem" is a kind of...):

scheme; strategy (an elaborate and systematic plan of action)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stratagem"):

plant (something planted secretly for discovery by another)

pump-and-dump scheme (an illegal scheme for making money by manipulating stock prices; the schemer persuades other people to buy the stock and then sells it himself as soon as the price of the stock rises)

wangle; wangling (an instance of accomplishing something by scheming or trickery)

 Context examples 

“And having such a knowledge of our own umbleness, we must really take care that we're not pushed to the wall by them as isn't umble. All stratagems are fair in love, sir.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

My faithful friend and noble patron, continued Laurie with a wave of the hand, who has so flatteringly presented me, is not to be blamed for the base stratagem of tonight.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Further he was more directly connected with the Wild than they; and he knew more of its secrets and stratagems.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“I wonder that my very simple stratagem could deceive so old a shikari,” said Holmes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Not that I shall, though, she added to herself, as she finished the letter; and my dear aunt, if you do not tell me in an honourable manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it out.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Dame Eliza looked doubtfully at him, as though fearing some other stratagem, but, as he made no demand for ale, she finally brought the paints, and watched him as he smeared on his background, talking the while about the folk round the fire.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The black manikin heard this plot, and at night when the soldier again ordered him to bring the princess, revealed it to him, and told him that he knew of no expedient to counteract this stratagem, and that if the shoe were found in the soldier’s house it would go badly with him.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)