Gameplan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A systematic blueprint outlining the actions required to achieve a predetermined goal
2. A carefully thought-out set of steps designed to reach a specific aim
3. An organized approach that guides actions towards accomplishing a desired outcome

Etymology: The sense of "game plan" is a sporting one at heart: a coach or team works out in advance how to beat an opponent, deciding which moves to make and in what order. Over time that idea of a deliberate sequence of steps was carried out of the stadium and into ordinary speech, where it now describes any strategy for reaching a goal, from a business launch to a family holiday. The word is a simple compound of "game" and "plan," so its history lies less in any single coinage than in the sporting context that gave it its shape. "Gameplan" is the closed-up spelling of the same term, and the two forms are used interchangeably.

Synonyms: strategy, tactical plan, approach, blueprint, scheme

Antonyms: disorganization, chaos, improvisation, spontaneity, confusion