HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
← Back to search

Meaning of subterfuge | Babel Free

Noun masculine CEFR C2 Specialized
ˈsʌbtəɹˌfjuːd͡ʒ

Definitions

  1. Subterfuge, ruse.
  2. An indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; a blind. Refers especially to war and diplomatics.
    countable
  3. Deception; misrepresentation of the true nature of an activity.
    uncountable

Equivalents

العربية الذريعة
Български изма́ма
Bosanski trik truc
Čeština lest trik úskok
Deutsch Täuschung Trick
Esperanto artifiko
Español demora evasiva subterfugio tapujo
Français subterfuge
Hrvatski trik truc
Kurdî lêst
Latina calumnia
Македонски измама мрдање
Nederlands misleiding truc
Српски trik truc
Українська ви́верт обма́н

Examples

“Overt subterfuge in a region nearly caused a minor accident.”
“How’s the spy hunt going? Uncovered any subterfuge?”
“But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.”
“But in the mean time […] it looks all ſo like ſubterfuge and inveagling; it is ſo nauſeating and teadious a task, that no man thinks he ovvs the Author ſo much ſervice as to find out the reaſon of his ovvn Categoricalneſs for him.”
“I have been critical of the RDG in the past for merely being a cypher for government announcements, but the failure of its members to make a stand on this issue and not be complicit in the Government's subterfuge is a shocking indictment of their failure to protect the industry.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See all C2 English words →

See also

Learn this word in context

See subterfuge used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free