From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsubterfugesub‧ter‧fuge /ˈsʌbtəfjuːdʒ $ -ər-/ noun [countable, uncountable] formalTRICK/DECEIVE a secret trick or slightly dishonest way of doing something, or the use of thisby subterfuge Sereni was lured to Moscow by subterfuge.
Examples from the Corpus
subterfuge• The ballot issue is a subterfuge designed to confuse voters.• The whole world worked by subterfuge and the will to believe.• I dialled and this time decided to try a little subterfuge.• He had a sense of subterfuge that was often nearly paralysing.• If the real rationale is political subterfuge, are these waivers appropriate at all?• I hated all the subterfuges, I hated lying to you.• Soon they would be together for ever, the subterfuge and deceit ended.• M., the president and Barnett agreed on this subterfuge.Origin subterfuge (1500-1600) Late Latin subterfugium, from Latin subterfugere “to escape”, from subter- “secretly” + fugere “to run away” 