Skip to content

stratagème

stratagem

noun strah-tah-ZHEM Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Origin: from Greek 'strategema'

Also means

trick

Usage Note

Stratagème refers to a clever trick or scheme designed to deceive or outwit an opponent — stronger than a simple ruse and more calculated than a truc. It appears in literary, military, and everyday contexts. Unlike English 'stratagem,' the French word is firmly masculine and retains a slightly formal or literary register.

Examples

"Il a utilisé un stratagème pour éviter la réunion."

Natural Translation

He used a stratagem to avoid the meeting.

Explore French by topic