The AI-powered English dictionary
countable and uncountable, plural subterfuges
(countable) An indirect or deceptive device or stratagem; a blind. Refers especially to war and diplomatics. quotations examples
How’s the spy hunt going? Uncovered any subterfuge?
2010, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest
But was it responsible governance to pass the Longitude Act without other efforts to protect British seamen? Or might it have been subterfuge—a disingenuous attempt to shift attention away from the realities of their life at sea.
2012 March, William E. Carter with Merri Sue Carter, “The British Longitude Act Reconsidered”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, Sigma Xi, archived from the original on 20 February 2012, page 87
(uncountable) Deception; misrepresentation of the true nature of an activity. quotations examples
I have been critical of the RDG in the past for merely being a cypher for government announcements, but the failure of its members to make a stand on this issue and not be complicit in the Government's subterfuge is a shocking indictment of their failure to protect the industry.
2023 July 26, Christian Wolmar, “Closing ticket offices to lead to 'catch-22' for passengers”, in RAIL, number 988, page 42