scheme

[skeem]

noun

1. a plan, design, or program of action to be followed; project.

2. an underhand plot; intrigue.

   Synonyms: conspiracy, cabal, stratagem

3. a visionary or impractical project.

4. a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc..

   a scheme of philosophy.

5. any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement.

   Synonyms: schema, pattern

6. a plan, program, or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business.

   The company's pension scheme is very successful.

7. an analytical or tabular statement.

8. a diagram, map, or the like.

9. an astrological diagram of the heavens.

verb (used with object)

schemed, scheming 

1. to devise as a scheme; conspire; plot; contrive.

verb (used without object)

schemed, scheming 

1. to lay schemes; devise plans; plot.

scheme

/ skiːm /

noun

1. a systematic plan for a course of action

2. a systematic arrangement of correlated parts; system

3. a secret plot

4. a visionary or unrealizable project

5. a chart, diagram, or outline

6. an astrological diagram giving the aspects of celestial bodies at a particular time

7. a plan formally adopted by a commercial enterprise or governmental body, as for pensions, etc

8. an area of housing that is laid out esp by a local authority; estate

verb

1. (tr) to devise a system for

2. to form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner

Other Word Forms

• schemeless adjective
• schemer noun
• outscheme verb (used with object)
• subscheme noun
• underscheme noun
• unschemed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of scheme¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Medieval Latin schēma (stem schēmat- ), from Greek schêma “form, figure”

Word History and Origins

Origin of scheme¹

C16: from Latin schema, from Greek skhēma form

Idioms and Phrases

see best-laid plans (schemes).

Synonym Study

See plan. See plot.

Example Sentences

After Mr Singh converted his home into a school, the state government has declared Piplodi a "model village" under a federal scheme.

From BBC

Levy also invited widespread criticism when he used the Government's furlough scheme during the Covid pandemic, then when he phased out concession tickets for seniors.

From BBC

She said the scheme gives young people who have experienced trauma "the best second chance at life" but parents "feel real fear" about the changes.

From BBC

The last Labour government started issuing ID cards to UK citizens, but the scheme was scrapped by the Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition over privacy concerns.

From BBC

"Our teaching bursary scheme offers a payment to career changers undertaking graduate teacher training in hard-to-fill subjects, including computing science."

From BBC

Related Words

• arrangement 
• blueprint 
• design 
• device 
• game plan 
• pattern 
• plan 
• program 
• project 
• proposal 
• strategy 
• system 
• theory