B2 noun Neutral

scheme

/skiːm/

A systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting an idea into effect. It can also refer to a secretive or devious plot to achieve a goal, often used to describe government programs or organizational systems.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The local council has introduced a new recycling scheme for garden waste.

The local council has introduced a new recycling plan for garden waste.

2

The proposed scheme for urban redevelopment will require significant private investment.

The proposed plan for urban redevelopment will require significant private investment.

3

I wonder what kind of scheme he's cooked up this time to get out of work.

I wonder what kind of plan he has created this time to avoid working.

Word Family

Noun
scheme
Verb
scheme
Adverb
schematically
Adjective
schematic
Related
schemer
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'schematic' diagram. Just as a schematic shows how parts of a machine fit together, a 'scheme' is the structural plan of how a system works.

Quick Quiz

The interior designer suggested a blue and silver _____ for the master bedroom.

Correct!

The correct answer is: scheme

Examples

1

The local council has introduced a new recycling scheme for garden waste.

everyday

The local council has introduced a new recycling plan for garden waste.

2

The proposed scheme for urban redevelopment will require significant private investment.

formal

The proposed plan for urban redevelopment will require significant private investment.

3

I wonder what kind of scheme he's cooked up this time to get out of work.

informal

I wonder what kind of plan he has created this time to avoid working.

4

The classification scheme used in this study is based on recent genetic findings.

academic

The classification system used in this study is based on recent genetic findings.

5

Employees are encouraged to join the company's contributory pension scheme.

business

Employees are encouraged to join the company's contributory pension plan.

Word Family

Noun
scheme
Verb
scheme
Adverb
schematically
Adjective
schematic
Related
schemer

Common Collocations

color scheme a combination of colors used in decoration
pension scheme a system for providing a retirement income
pilot scheme a small-scale experimental project
classification scheme a system for grouping things by type
incentive scheme a plan to motivate people to work harder

Common Phrases

in the grand scheme of things

considering everything in a broad context

pyramid scheme

a fraudulent investment scam

rhyme scheme

the ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines of a poem

Often Confused With

scheme vs plan

A plan is a general neutral term, whereas 'scheme' can imply a large-scale official system (UK) or a dishonest plot (US).

scheme vs sketch

A sketch is a rough drawing or outline, while a scheme is a detailed system or organized method.

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Usage Notes

In British English, 'scheme' is a very common and neutral word for a government or organizational program. In American English, it more frequently carries a negative connotation, suggesting a crafty or underhanded plot.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often assume 'scheme' is always negative (like a scam). However, in many professional contexts, it simply means a formal system or program.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'schematic' diagram. Just as a schematic shows how parts of a machine fit together, a 'scheme' is the structural plan of how a system works.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Greek 'skhema', meaning 'form, figure, or appearance'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (plural: schemes) Often followed by 'for' + gerund or 'to' + infinitive Can be used as a transitive or intransitive verb
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Cultural Context

In the United Kingdom, government initiatives like the 'Cycle to Work Scheme' make the word appear frequently in public life without any negative meaning.

Quick Quiz

The interior designer suggested a blue and silver _____ for the master bedroom.

Correct!

The correct answer is: scheme

Related Words

subfactile

C1

To subtly manipulate or influence the underlying facts or foundational elements of a situation, often to guide an outcome without drawing attention. It describes the act of working beneath the surface to reshape how a project or narrative is constructed.

microchromtude

C1

Characterized by extremely subtle or minute variations in color that are often imperceptible without specialized equipment. It describes a state of high chromatic complexity where hues shift in very small, detailed increments.

hypersumcide

C1

Describing a state of systemic collapse or self-destruction caused by the excessive accumulation and aggregation of components or data. It characterizes a system that fails because the total sum of its parts has become too overwhelming to manage or sustain.

circumjugious

C1

A rare term referring to the state or quality of being joined, yoked, or bound together in a circular or encompassing fashion. It describes a structural or conceptual unity where elements are linked around a central point or perimeter.

perinascize

C1

A rare noun denoting the state, process, or environment surrounding the emergence or birth of a concept, system, or entity. It specifically refers to the transitional phase and the immediate peripheral conditions present at the very moment of a new beginning.

misdocancy

C1

The act or instance of incorrect, faulty, or negligent documentation, specifically referring to the failure to accurately record information in professional or clinical settings. It describes the state where records are inconsistent with the actual events or data they are intended to represent.

envivency

C1

To infuse a concept, artistic work, or atmosphere with a renewed sense of life, vividness, and energy. It describes the act of making something abstract feel tangible or animating a previously stagnant situation.

comheredist

C1

To systematically unify and distribute inherited elements, traditions, or data into a cohesive modern framework. It describes the active process of integrating legacy components into a functional, distributed system.

disnascy

C1

A formal term describing a state of failed or arrested emergence, where a concept, project, or entity fails to fully develop or be born. It refers to the quality of being perpetually 'almost started' but never achieving a functional or realized existence.

devolile

C1

Describing something that is subject to or characterized by the delegation of authority from a central body to a subordinate or local level. It is often used to describe legal or administrative processes where powers are transferred downward.

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