🇬🇧🇪🇸 subterfuge - subterfugio : English Lesson

Meaning of "subterfuge" ("subterfugio"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

Subterfuge is a sneaky way of avoiding something or tricking someone, often by using clever words, disguises, or distractions. People use subterfuge to escape boring tasks, win games, or hide surprises.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

Grandma’s subterfuge for sneaking extra cookies is pretending she “forgot” how many she took.

My subterfuge for skipping gym class was faking a stomachache—until I got caught eating pizza.

I used subterfuge to convince my little sister that doing my chores was actually “a fun game.”

I tried subterfuge to sneak into the movie theater, but wearing sunglasses and a fake mustache didn’t work.

The best subterfuge I ever saw was when my dad “accidentally” forgot his wallet when the dinner bill arrived.

Tom used a small subterfuge: he hid the cracked vase behind a stack of books. His subterfuge involved a fake note and a trail of dust to the dog, a clumsy subterfuge. The dog sat, confused by the subterfuge. The mother laughed when she saw the books and dropped the pretense; they both sighed at the failed subterfuge.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.