What does plotting mean?
Plotting is the activity of secretly planning or organizing something, often an unlawful or harmful scheme. In everyday use, the word strongly suggests concealed intentions: people may be plotting against a government, plotting to gain power, or plotting an escape. It can also have neutral or technical meanings, such as marking points on a map or graph, or carefully planning a course of action. The word is especially useful when describing a hidden process whose participants are coordinating their moves while trying to avoid detection. Its negative reputation comes from its frequent association with conspiracy and betrayal, although the more literal senses of charting and planning are entirely ordinary.
Secretly planning or organizing an unlawful, harmful, or dishonest scheme.
"They were plotting to seize control of the company."
The gerund is commonly used with an implied or stated subject, as in “They were plotting to escape.”
Making a chart, diagram, or map by marking points or recording data.
"The researchers spent the morning plotting the measurements."
This use is neutral and technical.
The secret planning or organization of an unlawful, harmful, or dishonest scheme.
"The trial uncovered a conspiracy and years of plotting."
As a noun, plotting is usually uncountable and carries a negative connotation.
Rarely used; the singular mass noun “plotting” is standard in the sense of secret scheming.
"The novel depicts the plottings of rival factions."
From harmless diagrams to hidden schemes, plotting turns a simple set of marks or plans into the framework of a story.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does plotting come from?
The word plot comes from Old English and originally referred to a piece of land; it later came to mean a plan or scheme, including a secret plan in a story. The present form plotting developed through the ordinary English process of adding the suffix -ing to plot. Related forms include plotter, while plot also retains separate historical senses connected with land measurement.
Related word forms
How plotting is actually used
In its most common sense, plotting has a strongly negative connotation and usually implies secrecy, deception, or wrongdoing. The charting and navigation senses are more neutral.
Easily confused with plotting
The secret-scheme sense of plotting involves planning something covertly, whereas plotting a chart means marking data on a graph.