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

That’s exactly where many organizations are flying blind, building AI agents without a strategy for how to keep them running, governed and optimized at scale. —Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025

Mosier works with the university on social media strategy, and recently decided to bring her superstar pug to the school's campus for a visit. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 26 May 2025

What happens next? Kennedy has stated that a follow-up report outlining a strategy and potential policy reforms for addressing childhood chronic illness will be released in mid-August 2025. —Paul Dawson, The Conversation, 26 May 2025

Amy Cameron – an executive, writer and producer – and Tassie Cameron, a showrunner and executive producer – founded Cameron Pictures and manage it alongside executive producer Alex Patrick, who leads on strategy and business and legal affairs. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 May 2025

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