scheme

The word “scheme” means a plan for how to do something, especially an organized or official one. In plain terms, a plan — can be neutral (like a pension scheme) or shady (like a scam).

“Scheme” is pronounced skeem (/skiːm/ in IPA).

Here is “scheme” used in a sentence: “The council launched a new recycling scheme for the whole town.”

Words with a similar meaning to “scheme” include hatch and intrigue.

Depending on how it is used, “scheme” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “scheme” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin schēma ("figure, form"), from Greek skhēma, related to a word meaning "to hold". A doublet of "schema".

“Scheme” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Scheme” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a plan for how to do something, especially an organized or official one.

A plan is any set of steps for achieving something. A scheme is usually a more organised or official plan, often large in scale — a government scheme, a pension scheme. In British English 'scheme' is neutral, but in American English it often implies something sneaky or dishonest.

It depends on the variety of English. In British English, a scheme is usually a neutral or positive organised plan, like a recycling scheme. In American English, 'scheme' more often suggests a crafty or dishonest plot. Context and region decide whether the word is neutral or carries suspicion.

The word covers many organised plans: government schemes for housing or welfare, pension and savings schemes, colour schemes for design, and grand schemes or plots in the crafty sense. What links them is structure — a scheme is an arranged system or plan rather than a vague idea.

A pension scheme, which sets out an organised plan for saving toward retirement, is a common example. Others include a government recycling scheme, a loyalty scheme at a shop, or a colour scheme that plans how shades work together in a room.