ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

1

: escapade, frolic

2

a

: a tactic intended to embarrass or frustrate an opponent

b

: a devised or contrived move : stratagem

The story about being sick is just a ploy to get you to give her money.

… a ploy to get her to open the door?

—Robert B. Parker

Synonyms of ploy

• ruse
• scheme
• trick

Examples of ploy in a Sentence

Her story about being sick is only a ploy to get you to give her money.

asking me to take her shopping turned out to be a ploy to get me to the surprise party

Recent Examples on the Web

The Postal Service ploy is deservedly under attack in the courts, where Trump is zero for 10 in lawsuits demanding state voter rolls. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026

But Kane’s continuing NFL fandom is not just a gimmick or a ploy to ‘break America’. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 23 June 2026

This might be a clever ploy by AI makers or evildoers. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Of course someone who works as a bridesmaid for hire would go for a fake-dating ploy! — Katherine Polcari, Southern Living, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from employ

First Known Use

1722, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ploy

• counter-ploy
• marketing ploy

Rhymes for ploy

• boy
• choy
• coy
• croy
• foy
• hoi
• hoy
• joy
• loy
• oy
• soy
• toy

Kids Definition

ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

: a trick designed to embarrass or upset an opponent