noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈsʌbtəɹˌfjuː(d)ʒ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S AH1 B T ER0 F Y UW2 JH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; a blind. Refers especially to war and diplomatics.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable
Examples
Overt subterfuge in a region nearly caused a minor accident.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Deception; misrepresentation of the true nature of an activity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
something intended to misrepresent the true nature of an activity
Borrowed from Middle French subterfuge m, from Medieval Latin subterfugium n, from Latin subterfugiō (“to flee secretly”), from subter (“under”) and fugiō (“to flee”).
Across languages
Translations
43 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
увъртане
(uvǎrtane)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Bulgarian:
хитруване
(hitruvane)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Czech:
lest
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Czech:
úskok
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Czech:
trik
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Czech:
vytáčka
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Dutch:
truc
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Finnish:
harhautus
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Finnish:
ansa
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
German:
Täuschung
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
German:
Trick
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Greek:
τέχνασμα
(téchnasma)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Greek:
υπεκφυγή
(ypekfygí)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Hungarian:
fortély
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Hungarian:
csel
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Hungarian:
trükk
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Latin:
calumnia
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Macedonian:
мр́дање
(mŕdanje)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Māori:
nuka
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Russian:
уло́вка
(ulóvka)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Russian:
ухищре́ние
(uxiščrénije)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Serbo-Croatian:
vrdanje
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Serbo-Croatian:
izvrdavanje
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Serbo-Croatian:
obmana
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Spanish:
subterfugio
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Spanish:
tapujo
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Spanish:
evasiva
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Spanish:
demora
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Ukrainian:
виверт
(vyvert)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
Ukrainian:
викрут
(vykrut)
— indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; blind
