strat ‧ e ‧ gy W2 AC /ˈstrætədʒi, ˈstrætɪdʒi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural strategies )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ strategy , ↑ strategist ; adverb : ↑ strategically ; adjective : ↑ strategic ]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Greek ; Origin: strategia 'art of leading an army' , from strategos ; ⇨ ↑ stratagem ]
1 . [countable] a planned series of actions for achieving something:
the government’s long-term economic strategy
a company’s business strategy
strategy for doing something
a strategy for dealing with crime
strategy to do something
a strategy to attract younger audiences to jazz
2 . [uncountable and countable] the skill of planning the movements of armies in a war, or an example of this:
military strategies
It is the general’s role to develop overall strategy.
3 . [uncountable] skilful planning in general:
The company must first resolve questions of strategy.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ an economic strategy
The government has changed its economic strategy.
▪ a business strategy
This is a high-risk business strategy.
▪ a marketing strategy
The firm is considering a change in its marketing strategy.
▪ a political strategy
Baldwin’s political strategy was almost totally successful.
▪ a coping strategy
Therapists can show a child new coping strategies.
▪ a survival strategy
He says his father’s withdrawal was a survival strategy.
▪ a successful/effective strategy
The most successful strategy is often the simplest one.
▪ a clear/coherent strategy
It is important that the company has a clear strategy.
▪ a high-risk strategy
The expansion plan is a high-risk strategy.
▪ a long-term strategy
The closure of these branches is part of our long-term strategy.
■ verbs
▪ use a strategy ( also employ a strategy formal )
What strategies do you use to deal with these problems?
▪ adopt a strategy (=start to use it)
Both players adopted the same strategy.
▪ devise/work out a strategy ( also formulate a strategy formal )
We had to devise strategies for saving money.
▪ develop a strategy
Groups can help members develop new coping strategies.
▪ evolve a strategy
The creatures which live in the river have evolved strategies for surviving sudden floods.
▪ pursue/follow a strategy (=do a particular planned series of actions)
They are pursuing different strategies.
▪ implement a strategy formal (=do a series of actions that you or someone else has planned)
The firm faces several challenges as it seeks to implement that strategy.
▪ a strategy works
The Government’s economic strategy was not working.