Word of the Day — Friday, March 13, 2026
gambit
noun/ˈgam-bət/
Definitions
nouna chess opening in which a player risks one or more pawns or a minor piece to gain an advantage in position
nouna calculated move stratagem
nouna first move
“Their opening gambit in the negotiations was to demand a wage hike.”
Examples
- “Their opening gambit in the negotiations was to demand a wage hike.”
Etymology
borrowed from Spanish gambito, borrowed from Italian gambetto, literally, "act of tripping someone," from gamba "leg" (going back to Late Latin) + -etto, diminutive suffix