noun C1 Advanced Uncommon

ploy

Ploy (noun) means a cunning tactic or trick used to gain an advantage. Example: “Offering the free trial was just a ploy to collect email addresses.”

noun

A cunning tactic or trick used to gain an advantage.

"Offering the free trial was just a ploy to collect email addresses."

"His compliment was a ploy to get out of trouble."

How to use ploy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA clever, often sneaky, move designed to get what you want.

Easily confused with

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Common pairings

a clever ploy a ploy to do something see through a ploy

Word forms

ployed past tense, ploys plural, ploys singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Offering the free trial was just a _____ to collect email addresses.

Etymology

Possibly a shortened form of "employ" or "deploy", though its exact origin is debated.

Synonyms

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gambit stratagem

Related words

trick tactic gambit stratagem

Rhymes for ploy

oy boy joy toy hoy soy coy Roy goy doy loy foy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ploy” mean?

The word “ploy” means a cunning tactic or trick used to gain an advantage. In plain terms, a clever, often sneaky, move designed to get what you want.

How do you pronounce “ploy”?

“Ploy” is pronounced ploy (/plɔɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “ploy” in a sentence?

Here is “ploy” used in a sentence: “Offering the free trial was just a ploy to collect email addresses.”

What part of speech is “ploy”?

“Ploy” is a noun.

Is “ploy” a common word?

“Ploy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

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