Meaning of “scheme” in the English Dictionary

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"scheme" in English

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schemenoun [ C ]

uk ​ /skiːm/ us ​ /skiːm/

› an organized plan for doing something, especially something dishonest or illegal that will bring a good result for you:

He has a hare-brained/crazy scheme for getting rich before he's 20.

B2 mainly UK an officially organized plan or system:

Under the current marking/mark scheme, you need 90 percent to get an A.
a training/housing/play scheme
a pension/savings scheme
There's a new scheme in our town for recycling plastic bottles.
Class sizes will increase under the new scheme.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

the scheme of things

schemeverb [ I or T ]

uk ​ /skiːm/ us ​ /skiːm/ disapproving
schemer
noun [ C ] uk ​ /ˈskiː.mər/ us ​ /ˈskiː.mɚ/ disapproving

›

He's a schemer who always finds a way of getting what he wants.
scheming
adjective uk ​ /ˈskiː.mɪŋ/ us ​ /ˈskiː.mɪŋ/ disapproving

›

a secretive and scheming politician

(Definition of “scheme” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

"scheme" in American English

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schemenoun [ C ]

us ​ /skim/

› a plan for doing or organizing something:

The committee came up with a creative fundraising scheme.
The yellow and white color scheme brightened up the kitchen.

› A scheme is also a secret and dishonest plan:

[ + to infinitive ] They devised a scheme to defraud the government of millions of dollars.

Idiom(s)

in the (grand) scheme of things

schemeverb [ I ]

us ​ /skim/

› to make a plan, esp. a secret and dishonest one:

[ + to infinitive ] He was scheming to get the top job from the moment he joined the company.
schemer
noun [ C ] /ˈski·mər/

(Definition of “scheme” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

"scheme" in Business English

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schemenoun [ C ]

uk ​ /skiːm/ us ​

› UK GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT, FINANCE an officially organized plan or system:

a scheme to do sth The firm is lead developer on a scheme to construct 800 homes.
devise/come up with a scheme They have devised a scheme that allows entrepreneurs to benefit from each other's success.
introduce/launch/set up a scheme
run/operate a scheme Tesco runs a scheme to help managers spot talent.
a job-creation/training scheme
a government/management scheme
an incentive/mentoring scheme
investment/savings schemes

› disapproving a plan for getting an advantage for yourself, especially by deceiving others:

a scheme to do sth He was planning a scheme to rob people of their savings.
participate in/be involved in a scheme

See also

advance fee scheme
buddy scheme
contributory pension scheme
enterprise investment scheme
occupational pension scheme
pension scheme
Ponzi scheme
pyramid scheme
reward scheme
small self-administered scheme
suggestion scheme

schemeverb [ I ]

uk ​ /skiːm/ us ​

› disapproving to make clever secret plans which are intended to deceive people:

scheme against sb His staff were scheming against him.

(Definition of “scheme” from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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