Machination
/ˌmækɪˈneɪʃən/
nounC1
Definition
Machination means a secret plan or action, usually made by people to do something bad or unfair. It often involves tricking others or causing problems quietly without being seen.
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See It in Action
A secret plan to do something harmful or dishonest
- •The villain's machination was to steal the king's treasure without anyone noticing.
- •The company was accused of machination to block competitors unfairly.
- •They uncovered the machinations behind the political scandal.
(Less common) Any complicated plan or plot, not always bad
- •The story describes the machinations of court life in the old kingdom.
- •The novel explores the machinations of power and influence.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "machination" like a "plan" (A1), but a secret and often dishonest or tricky plan.
- ✓Picture people whispering in a dark room, making a plan nobody else knows about.
- ✓It's the feeling when you sense someone is planning something behind your back that might cause trouble.
- ✓Sounds like "mack-in-NAY-shun" → imagine a machine (machine = "mack") making a secret plan that works quietly and cleverly.
- ✓In stories, villains often use machinations to trick heroes and win without fighting openly.
- ✓NOT like "plan" (open and honest), machination is hidden and often bad.
- ✓NOT like "accident" (happens by chance), machination is carefully made by people.
- ✓NOT like "strategy" (which can be good or fair), machination usually has a bad or tricky meaning.
Try Other Words
- •Scheme: secret and often dishonest plan (Use when the plan is smaller or less complex)
- •Conspiracy: secret plan by a group to do something harmful (Use when many people are involved)
- •Plot: secret plan, often in stories or crimes (Use for general secret plans)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "machin-" (from machine, meaning device or tool) + suffix "-ation" (meaning action or process)
- •Etymology: From Latin "machinatio," meaning a clever or crafty device or plot
- •Historical development: Originally meant a clever device or trick, later used for secret or dishonest plans
- •Modern usage: Usually means secret, clever plans to trick or harm, often in politics or stories
Reflect & Connect
•Can a machination ever be good or helpful, or is it always bad? Why?
•How do machinations affect trust between people or groups?
Fill in the blanks
1.The politician's machination was designed to ___ his opponent without being noticed.
2.When people talk about machination, they often mean plans made in ___ to others.
3.Unlike an honest plan, a machination usually involves ___ or unfair actions.
4.In many stories, heroes must stop the villain's machination to ___ the day.
5.Machinations often happen ___, where no one outside the group can see them.
6.A machination is different from a simple plan because it usually has a ___ goal.
7.When a group works together in a machination, it can be called a ___ or conspiracy.