ploy

noun

ˈplȯi 

1

: escapade, frolic

2

a

: a tactic intended to embarrass or frustrate an opponent

b

: a devised or contrived move : stratagem

a ploy to get her to open the door

—Robert B. Parker

Synonyms

• artifice
• device
• dodge
• fetch
• flimflam
• gambit
• gimmick
• jig
• juggle
• knack
• play
• ruse
• scheme
• shenanigan
• sleight
• stratagem
• trick
• wile

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

Not a single second of daylight is saved by this ploy. —Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025

State media reporting that Rubio might attend could be a misinformation ploy amid stalled peace negotiations for a ceasefire in the war Putin started. —Brendan Cole yevgeny Kuklychev, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

They were found guilty of stealing over one million dollars in jewelry, cars, and more in what was called an elaborate ploy. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Early in 2008, when Clinton briefly welled up in a coffee shop after a bruising loss in the Iowa caucus, the moment was interpreted as being a melodramatic scandal fit for TMZ and a cynical ploy for attention that eventually won her New Hampshire. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from employ

First Known Use

1697, 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