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Added 9 October 2026

subterfuge

/ˈsʌbtəɹˌfjuː(d)ʒ/ noun

In Latin: calumnia Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about subterfuge at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

An indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; a blind. Refers especially to war and diplomatics.
Overt subterfuge in a region nearly caused a minor accident.
Deception; misrepresentation of the true nature of an activity.

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French subterfuge m, from Medieval Latin subterfugium n, from Latin subterfugiō (“to flee secretly”), from subter (“under”) and fugiō (“to flee”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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