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

Anticipating Trump's strategy to try to delay, Smith asked the Supreme Court in December to immediately take up the case. —Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, the Panthers seem to have found their strategy for getting past Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024

His answer was to unveil a seismic strategy shift that may prove fateful. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2024

My part in that is helping chart our Alternative Content strategy — basically, anything that isn’t a major first-run release. —Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

But Xi’s strategy has taken flight only in the past year, with the release of the Global Civilization Initiative in May 2023. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024

Seek clarification on the reasons for the denials and inquire about potential strategies to improve the approval rate for your requests. —Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024

In addition to scaling back encroachment on the 6-inch-tall (15-centimeter-tall) wildflower with yellow and cream-colored blooms, the strategy includes a controversial propagation plan to grow and transplant flowers nearby — something conservationists say won't work. —Scott Sonner, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Greek stratēgia generalship, from stratēgos

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing strategy

• counter-strategy
• exit 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