scheme

scheme — noun

1. a set of actions and methods that someone thinks up in secret, aimed at getting

1.nounB1
Definition

a set of actions and methods that someone thinks up in secret, aimed at getting money, power, or some other benefit through lies, tricks, or by breaking rules. A typical example would be an investment scheme that promises very high returns but is designed only to collect people's money and give nothing back.

Example

Hyun lost all his savings after putting money into a get-rich-quick scheme that turned out to be a complete fraud.

collocation: get-rich-quick scheme

The owner of the company was arrested for running an elaborate scheme to avoid paying taxes.

scheme + to-infinitive for dishonest purpose

Common collocations
  • get-rich-quick scheme
  • elaborate scheme
  • fraudulent scheme
  • cooking up a scheme
  • scheme to defraud
Synonyms
  • plot

    A plot is a secret plan made by a group of people, usually to do something harmful or illegal, and often involves a specific target such as a person or institution. A scheme can be run by one person and focuses more on personal gain.

  • conspiracy

    A conspiracy always involves multiple people secretly planning an illegal or harmful act, often against a government or authority. Stronger and more serious than scheme.

  • scam

    A scam is a dishonest plan specifically designed to cheat people out of money, usually through a fake business deal. More informal and narrower than scheme.

Grammar Patterns

scheme + to-infinitive

Usage Note

This sense carries a strong negative meaning. Almost always describes something dishonest or illegal, especially in reports about financial fraud. Frequently used in news headlines.

Common Mistakes

He has a scheme for saving money by buying cheap food.
He has a plan for saving money by buying cheap food.
If the plan is honest and sensible, use 'plan' instead of 'scheme', which sounds suspicious.

2. a structured set of rules and procedures set up by a government department, a co

2.nounB1
Definition

a structured set of rules and procedures set up by a government department, a company, or another large organization to provide a service or to deal with a particular need. For instance, a national pension scheme that ensures retired people receive regular payments from the state.

Example

The government launched a health insurance scheme that covers all medical costs for children under twelve.

collocation: health insurance scheme

Felix joined his employer's pension scheme so that he would have a steady income after retiring.

collocation: pension scheme

Common collocations
  • pension scheme
  • insurance scheme
  • bonus scheme
  • incentive scheme
  • mentoring scheme
  • training scheme
  • colour scheme
  • national scheme
Synonyms
  • program

    Program is the preferred term in American English for official plans and is more general. A scheme often feels more specifically structured, while a program can be a broad set of activities.

  • system

    System is broader than scheme — it refers to any set of connected things that work together, not necessarily one that was formally designed as a plan.

  • plan

    Plan is the most general word. A scheme is a more formal or organized kind of plan, often with written rules.

Usage Note

Commonly neutral or positive in tone. Very frequent in British English for government programs; American English often prefers 'program' or 'system' in such contexts.

Common Mistakes

The company has a new incentive scheme, but it is probably a trick to cut wages.
The company has a new incentive scheme that rewards top performers.
When 'scheme' refers to an official system, do not add a dishonest meaning unless there is clear evidence of fraud.
Idioms

the scheme of things

idiom

the way that events and situations are naturally organized or understood in relation to one another

In the grand scheme of things, missing one bus is not really a big problem.

Young children cannot yet understand their place in the wider scheme of things.

the/somebody’s scheme of things

idiom

The way that events or situations are organized or understood, often from a broad perspective.

In the grand scheme of things, missing one bus is not a disaster.

Does finding a new job fit into your scheme of things right now?

scheme — verb

Word family

  • schemer
    nounC1
  • schematic
    adjectiveC1
  • schematically
    adverbC1
  • scheming
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a dishonest or secret plan, but they differ in scope, number of people involved, and typical context. A scheme is often a step-by-step plan for personal gain, and it can involve just one person working alone — for example, a tax-evasion scheme run by a single business owner. A plot usually targets a specific person or institution and implies a group of people working together; it often appears in stories about political takeovers or revenge. A conspiracy always involves two or more people and suggests a serious, often political, crime such as overthrowing a government. A scam is narrower and more informal: it refers specifically to a trick that cheats people out of money, such as a fake online store that takes payments but never delivers goods. If you hear about a 'get-rich-quick scheme', it might be a scam. If people plan secretly to remove a company director, it is a plot. If a group of politicians agrees to fix an election, that is a conspiracy.

scheme ↗plot ↗conspiracy ↗scam ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • scheme of things
  • scheme of work

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in the grand scheme of things
  • cook up a scheme
  • hatch a scheme

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'scheme' entered English in the mid-1500s from Latin 'schema', meaning 'form, shape, or figure', which came from Greek 'skhēma' (same meaning). Its original sense was a diagram or outline of something — the shape of an idea. Over time, it shifted to mean a plan of action, and by the 1700s it had developed a negative flavour, referring to secret or dishonest plans. The neutral sense of an official program or system (a pension scheme, a colour scheme) arose in the 1800s and is more common in British English than American English.