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

In what prosecutors believe was a ploy to keep her boyfriend Wade Griffin, Parker pretended to be pregnant with their child. —Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026

Or is every bit of positivity on TikTok and X a ploy to dispel the bad press about World Cup ticketing and transit, and replace it with Americana vibes and excitement for official soccer jerseys? —Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 15 June 2026

Lyman Ward played Ferris' dad, whose busy work schedule kept him conveniently distracted from his teenage son's ploys. —Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026

Some suggest that this bill of goods (brought to you by the same spin masters who wanted to develop our public parks) is a ploy to increase voter turnout in November. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 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