scheme

1 of 2

noun

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

scheme

2 of 2

verb

schemed; scheming

intransitive verb

: to form plans
also : plot, intrigue

transitive verb

: to form a scheme for
schemer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for scheme

plan, design, plot, scheme, project mean a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end.

plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
These include diverse locations, skilled crews, studio facilities and a location production, or incentive, scheme. Patrick Frater, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Courts Woman admits to taking fake jobs as part of defense contractor bribery scheme April 13, 2021 Gutierrez’s plea agreement and other documents in the case hinted at the much wider bribery scheme, though Soriano was not named in those documents, nor were the companies that paid her. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 One loss, in the grand scheme of a long season, won’t mean too much. David Wilson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 The agency is also taking a closer look at schemes through which corporations and wealthy taxpayers are known to shelter their income illicitly. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Scammers can use encrypted apps to execute their schemes, and calls are completed in minutes. Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2024 The central public space has no gates and can only be reached by passing through the housing blocks, a scheme designed to increase the likelihood of chance encounters. Oscar Holland, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 There was no place in the new scheme for Mr. Ryzhkov. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2024 As Bloomberg first reported, project leader Kevin Lynch and COO Jeff Williams yesterday broke the news to nearly 2,000 staffers working on the decade-old scheme. David Meyer, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024
Verb
The judge in the civil fraud case ruled last month that Trump, Weisselberg and others schemed to deceive banks, insurers and others by lying about Trump's wealth on financial statements used to make deals and secure loans. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Mar. 2024 The judge in the civil fraud case ruled last month that Trump, Weisselberg and others schemed to deceive banks, insurers and others by lying about Trump’s wealth on financial statements used to make deals and secure loans. Jake Offenhartz, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Keoghan earned a nomination for Leading Actor for his role as the scheming Oliver Quick, with Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike earning nods for Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress, respectively. Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2024 Dude might scheme up a storm, by all accounts, and teach with the best of ’em. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2024 The Indictment: Federal prosecutors said that Trump put national security secrets at risk by mishandling classified documents and schemed to block the government from reclaiming the material. Alan Feuer, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024 The co-founders of former president Donald Trump’s media company filed a lawsuit Wednesday, claiming that Trump and other leaders had schemed to deprive them of a stake in the company that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Like Zuko, Azula is desperate for the attention of their domineering father, pushing her fiery powers to the limit and scheming ways to unseat her brother. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 Ken Leung is great as the sniveling, scheming Commander Zhou. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of scheme was circa 1595

Dictionary Entries Near scheme

Cite this Entry

“Scheme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scheme. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scheme

1 of 2 noun
1
: 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

Medical Definition

scheme

noun
: schema

Legal Definition

scheme

noun
1
: 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

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