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

Turning Point, the organization co-founded by late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in 2012, announced the lineup to the counter-programming ploy using a poster depicting the artists involved, with Kid Rock being front and center. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026

With the cost of a national Big Game campaign rising significantly, some of Madison Avenue’s top denizens have tested the ploy. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 29 Jan. 2026

In another clip, the actress is joined poolside by Matthew McConaughey as the duo discuss whether or not football is a ploy to sell food. —Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026

In the late 1800s, the Mountain House Hotel owners created a manmade version of Firefall by pushing a bonfire off Glacier Point’s edge in a ploy to attract tourism. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 18 Jan. 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