From Middle English stratageme, from Old French stratageme, from Latin strategema, from Ancient Greek στρατήγημα, from στρατηγέω ("to be a general, command an army"), from στρατηγός ("a general, the leader or commander of an army").

• (America) IPA: /ˈstɹæt.ə.d͡ʒəm/

stratagem

1. A tactic or artifice designed to gain the upper hand, especially one involving underhanded dealings or deception.

   Near-synonyms: ploy, ruse

   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “A Friend at Court”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC ↗, page 265 ↗:

     She will not yet be permitted to return to the Manor House: it is too convenient for 'treasons, stratagems,' &c.; and it is as well not to be put in the way of temptation: but she will be allowed perfect liberty in London.

2. Specifically, such a tactic or artifice in military operation.
   • c. 1587–1588, [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC ↗; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire, London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii ↗:

     His fiery eies are fixt vpon the earth.
     As if he now deuiſ’d some Stratageme:
     Or meant to pierce Auernus darkſome vauts.
     To pull the triple headed dog from hell.

3. (uncountable) Military deception or artifice.
4. (uncountable) Cunning and artifice in general.
5. (obsolete) A violent deed.

• strategic
• strategist
• strategy

• French: stratagème
• German: Kriegslist, Strategem (elevated), Stratagem (elevated)
• Italian: stratagemma, tattica, schema
• Portuguese: estratagema, maquinação
• Russian: уло́вка
• Spanish: estratagema