What is the meaning of Artifice?

A crafty but underhanded deception.

A trick played out as an ingenious, but artful, ruse.

A strategic maneuver that uses some clever means to avoid detection or capture.

A tactical move to gain advantage.

Something made with technical skill; a contrivance.

To construct by means of skill or specialised art

artifice, trick, ploy

device

ablative singular of artifex

Source: wiktionary.org