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

What starts out as a ploy to get the attention of Hannah’s crush Justin Kohl (Josh Heuston) turns into reel feelings between the singer songwriter and the hockey athlete. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 11 June 2026

Restrain your anger and disappointment over FIFA’s corporate greed and unabashed ploy to capitalize on this every-four-year money grab. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 8 June 2026

Peterborough United midfielder Matthew Garbett is crucial to this ploy, often drifting into wider positions or making selfless underlapping runs to help his side’s attack. —Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 June 2026

Heastie and his Democratic pals tried this in 2022 and the state courts rejected the ploy. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 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