A contrivance is an unfair or dishonest scheme or trick to gain an advantage for yourself. some contrivance to raise prices. = ploy
an artificial or unnatural or obviously contrived arrangement of details or parts etc ; "the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable"
an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track
"the plot contained too many improbable contrivances to be believable" an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track