1
: a plan or program of action
especially
: a crafty or secret one
2
: a systematic or organized configuration : design
color scheme
3
: a concise statement or table : epitome
4
a
: a graphic sketch or outline
b
archaic
(1)
: a mathematical or astronomical diagram
(2)
: a representation of the astrological aspects of the planets at a particular time
schemed; scheming
: to form a scheme for
schemer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of scheme in a Sentence
Noun
a scheme to cheat people out of their money
The company has a new scheme for insurance coverage.
a scheme to improve the economy
the color scheme of a room
Verb
He felt that the other men were scheming against him.
He was betrayed by a scheming friend.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
This is the most condemnable aspect of crypto, and one that should guide us to a more skeptical and critical attitude toward its successor scams, schemes, and investment opportunities in tech.
—Jacob Bacharach, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2023
Cooke later harnessed his pioneering direct-to-consumer investment concept to offload bonds in a scheme selling the latest technology—railroads—to the next generation of individual investors.
—Mickey Butts, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
Thorne certainly has the more reliable arm, but Freeze has pointed out his decision-making difficulties leading Auburn’s run-pass-option scheme after each of the first two games.
—Matt Cohen | McOhen@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023
Tolstedt, the only Wells Fargo executive to face criminal charges in the scheme, paid $17 million to settle a civil case with the the OCC, and $3 million to settle with the SEC.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023
Adam Bhala Lough, expose the involvement of state and local FOPs in the scheme, connect the scams to the rise of political robo-calls and indict government officials for failing to address the problem with adequate regulations for decades now.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Smith was charged in the assisted suicide scheme, and Murdaugh’s lawyers claimed Smith was Murdaugh’s drug dealer who supplied him opioids that allegedly fueled Murdaugh’s two-decade addiction.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023
The three games are all coming to the Switch with improved graphics and, hopefully, improved control schemes.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 14 Sep. 2023
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Trump, a Republican, was charged this month in a four-count indictment with scheming to undo his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
—Eric Tucker, Lindsay Whitehurst, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2023
Trump is accused by District Attorney Fani Willis of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters in a desperate bid to keep Joe Biden out of the White House.
—Eric Tucker, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023
Day expects defenses to scheme to limit Harrison and believes OSU must be proactive to avoid him getting lost for stretches of games.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2023
In 2018, McFarland pleaded guilty to scheming thousands of people out of money from the Fyre Festival.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2023
The three are charged in Florida with scheming to try to delete security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago that showed boxes of sensitive documents being moved around the building.
—Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023
In the musical production, Beetlejuice — a self-serving demon scheming to be set free from the netherworld — works the audience like a standup comic, with hilarious asides, topical one-liners and pointed insults for at least one unfortunate audience member each night.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2023
Cecile was known as a scheming antagonist in the show and was involved in a love triangle with the characters Blaine and Sandy.
—Jaden Thompson, Variety, 23 Aug. 2023
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Noun
The wide distribution is reflective of the creativity and versatility within offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s scheme, which features a variety of personnel groupings.
—Ben Volin, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
This is the most condemnable aspect of crypto, and one that should guide us to a more skeptical and critical attitude toward its successor scams, schemes, and investment opportunities in tech.
—Jacob Bacharach, The New Republic, 18 Sep. 2023
Cooke later harnessed his pioneering direct-to-consumer investment concept to offload bonds in a scheme selling the latest technology—railroads—to the next generation of individual investors.
—Mickey Butts, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2023
Thorne certainly has the more reliable arm, but Freeze has pointed out his decision-making difficulties leading Auburn’s run-pass-option scheme after each of the first two games.
—Matt Cohen | McOhen@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023
Tolstedt, the only Wells Fargo executive to face criminal charges in the scheme, paid $17 million to settle a civil case with the the OCC, and $3 million to settle with the SEC.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023
Adam Bhala Lough, expose the involvement of state and local FOPs in the scheme, connect the scams to the rise of political robo-calls and indict government officials for failing to address the problem with adequate regulations for decades now.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Smith was charged in the assisted suicide scheme, and Murdaugh’s lawyers claimed Smith was Murdaugh’s drug dealer who supplied him opioids that allegedly fueled Murdaugh’s two-decade addiction.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2023
The three games are all coming to the Switch with improved graphics and, hopefully, improved control schemes.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 14 Sep. 2023
Verb
The Rams secondary played well against Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan knows how to scheme against the Rams, who have not defeated the 49ers in the regular season since 2018.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023
Trump, a Republican, was charged this month in a four-count indictment with scheming to undo his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
—Eric Tucker, Lindsay Whitehurst, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2023
Trump is accused by District Attorney Fani Willis of scheming to subvert the will of Georgia voters in a desperate bid to keep Joe Biden out of the White House.
—Eric Tucker, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2023
Day expects defenses to scheme to limit Harrison and believes OSU must be proactive to avoid him getting lost for stretches of games.
—Nathan Baird, cleveland, 24 Aug. 2023
In 2018, McFarland pleaded guilty to scheming thousands of people out of money from the Fyre Festival.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2023
The three are charged in Florida with scheming to try to delete security camera footage at Mar-a-Lago that showed boxes of sensitive documents being moved around the building.
—Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023
In the musical production, Beetlejuice — a self-serving demon scheming to be set free from the netherworld — works the audience like a standup comic, with hilarious asides, topical one-liners and pointed insults for at least one unfortunate audience member each night.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2023
Cecile was known as a scheming antagonist in the show and was involved in a love triangle with the characters Blaine and Sandy.
—Jaden Thompson, Variety, 23 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scheme.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Latin schemat-, schema arrangement, figure, from Greek schēmat-, schēma, from echein to have, hold, be in (such) a condition; akin to Old English sige victory, Sanskrit sahate he prevails
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 4b(1)
Verb
1749, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing scheme
Articles Related to scheme
Dictionary Entries Near scheme
Cite this Entry
“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scheme. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
scheme
1 of 2 noun1
: a pictorial sketch or outline
2
: a brief statement in an outline, table, or list
3
: a plan or program of action
a new scheme for better insurance coverage
especially
: a sly or secret one
a scheme to seize control of the territory
4
: a regular or organized design, arrangement, or pattern
the color scheme of a room
your whole scheme of life
scheme
2 of 2 verb
schemed; scheming
1
: to form a scheme for
2
: to form plans
especially
: to engage in a plot
schemer
noun
Legal Definition
scheme
noun1
: a combination of elements (as statutes or regulations) that are connected, adjusted, and integrated by design : a systematic plan or program
an inspection scheme
2
: a clever and often dishonest plan
a scheme to defraud investors
More from Merriam-Webster on scheme
Nglish: Translation of scheme for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of scheme for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scheme
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