strategy

noun

strat·​e·​gy ˈstra-tə-jē 

plural strategies

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

Synonyms

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

Examples of strategy in a Sentence

They are proposing a new strategy for treating the disease with a combination of medications.

The government is developing innovative strategies to help people without insurance get medical care.

a specialist in campaign strategy

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, the report suggests that companies tie their mental health initiatives to a broader organizational strategy and goal—for instance, reducing burnout or attrition. —Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024

As my colleague David French has noted, the approach that Israel has employed in Gaza in recent months — destroying the enemy but ignoring civilian needs for security and basic necessities — replicates the strategy that led to disaster in the early years of the U.S. occupation of Iraq. —Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

The strategy injected enough doubt in the minds of the majority African-American jury to tilt the result Simpson’s way. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024

Some are willing to dip into retirement savings — a strategy many financial experts advise against. —Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

Psychologists taught the teachers coping strategies to help their students, like calming breathing exercises. —Daniel Estrin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024

Saving Strategies: For Baby Boomers, implementing more aggressive saving strategies is crucial to ensure a comfortable financial future. —Ebony Flake, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024

Nevertheless, the basic argument in favor of diversification still holds, and an uncomplicated 60/40 strategy can be a good way to achieve it. —The Arizona Republic, 31 Mar. 2024

In the storm's aftermath, city officials adopted a mindset focused on three broad strategies: respond, recover and rebuild. —Josh Snyder, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek stratēgia generalship, from stratēgos

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing strategy

• exit strategy
• counter-strategy

Kids Definition

strategy

noun

strat·​e·​gy ˈstrat-ə-jē 

plural strategies

1

: the science and art of employing the forces of a country in peace or war

especially : the science and art of military command exercised to meet the enemy in combat under favorable conditions

2

a

: a careful plan or method

b

: the art of making or employing plans or tricks to achieve a goal

Medical Definition

strategy

noun

strat·​e·​gy ˈstrat-ə-jē 

plural strategies

: 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