strategy

strat·e·gy

noun \-jē\

plural strat·e·gies

Definition of STRATEGY

1

a (1) : the science and art of employing the political, economic, psychological, and military forces of a nation or group of nations to afford the maximum support to adopted policies in peace or war (2) : the science and art of military command exercised to meet the enemy in combat under advantageous conditions

b : a variety of or instance of the use of strategy

2

a : a careful plan or method : a clever stratagem

b : the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal

3

: an adaptation or complex of adaptations (as of behavior, metabolism, or structure) that serves or appears to serve an important function in achieving evolutionary success <foraging strategies of insects>

Examples of STRATEGY

1. They are proposing a new strategy for treating the disease with a combination of medications.
2. The government is developing innovative strategies to help people without insurance get medical care.
3. a specialist in campaign strategy

Origin of STRATEGY

Greek stratēgia generalship, from stratēgos

First Known Use: 1810

Related to STRATEGY

Synonyms

arrangement, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, master plan, program, project, road map, scheme, plan, system

Related Words

collusion, conspiracy, plot; contrivance, device, gambit, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, subterfuge, trick; counterplan, counterstrategy; means, tactic, technique, way; procedure, protocol; conception, idea, projet, proposal, specific(s), specification(s); aim, intent, intention, purpose; diagram, formula, layout, map, pattern, platform, policy, recipe, setup

strat·e·gy

noun \ˈstrat-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; strat·e·gies

Medical Definition of STRATEGY

: an adaptation or complex of adaptations (as of behavior, metabolism, or structure) that serves or appears to serve an important function in achieving evolutionary success

strategy

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In warfare, coordinated application of all the forces of a nation to achieve a goal. In contrast to tactics, strategy's components include a long-range view, the preparation of resources, and planning for the use of those resources before, during, and after an action. The term has expanded far beyond its original military meaning. As society and warfare have steadily grown more complex, military and nonmilitary factors have become more and more inseparable in the conduct of war and in programs designed to secure peace. In the 20th century, the term grand strategy, meaning the art of employing all the resources of a nation or coalition of nations to achieve the objects of war (and peace), steadily became more popular in the literature of warfare and statecraft.