subterfuge

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbtəfjuːdʒ/

noun

[mass noun]
  • deceit used in order to achieve one’s goal: he had to use subterfuge and bluff on many occasions [count noun]: I hated all the subterfuges, I hated lying to you

Origin:

late 16th century: from French, or from late Latin subterfugium, from Latin subterfugere 'escape secretly', from subter- 'beneath' + fugere 'flee'