rhizoverbBeta
DictionarymachinationSecret scheme
noun

machination

mash-ih-NAY-shun/ˌmæʃɪˈneɪʃn/

A secret, crafty scheme intended to cause harm.

The secret envelope exchange forms part of the pair's underhanded machination.

Two well-dressed white adults secretly exchange a sealed envelope behind an office partition while studying a plan, underhanded plotting.
Etymology
machinLatincontrive, scheme
+ationLatinaction or result

Latin machinari covered both skillful designing and plotting. A machination is thus a contrivance in the mental rather than mechanical sense—a carefully devised scheme, with the underhanded meaning already present in its ancestry.

More examples

  • She uncovers a machination designed to force her resignation.
  • Their financial machinations leave hundreds of retirees without savings.
  • The investigation exposes the rival company's machinations.

Forms

machination · machinations

Similar words

plot
Emphasizes a secret plan, often involving several people.
scheme
Can describe any organized plan, not necessarily a harmful one.