mach ‧ i ‧ na ‧ tions /ˌmækəˈneɪʃ ə nz, ˌmækɪˈneɪʃ ə nz, ˌmæʃə-/ BrE AmE noun [plural] formal
secret, clever, and often unfair methods used to achieve something – used in order to show disapproval
machinations of
the political machinations of far right groups