subterfuge Hear it!

subterfuge definition

sub·ter·fuge (sub′tər fyo̵̅o̅j′)

noun

any plan, action, or device used to hide one's true objective, evade a difficult or unpleasant situation, etc.; stratagem; artifice

Etymology: LL subterfugium < L subterfugere, to flee secretly, escape < subter, secretly (< subter, below) + fugere, to flee: see fugitive

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.