English Explanatory Dictionary

ploy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A tactic, strategy, or scheme.
  2. Sport; frolic.
  3. Employment.
verb
  1. To form a column from a line of troops on some designated subdivision.

Pronunciation

/plɔɪ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ploy.wav

Word forms

ploy ploys ploying ployed

Etymology

Possibly from a shortened form of employ or deploy. Or from earlier ploye, from Middle English, borrowed from Middle French ployer (compare modern plier), from Latin plicāre.

Synonyms

ruse stratagem device

Antonyms

deploy

Derived words

counterploy ratings ploy Trollope ploy
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