exit strategy

exit strategy (plural exit strategies)

1. (usually military, politics or business) A well-defined plan for bringing involvement in a mission, activity, or commitment to an acceptable conclusion.
   • 1993 October 18, Michael Kramer, “The Political Interest It's All Foreign to Clinton”, in Time:

     Seeking an exit strategy before sailing in harm's way is smart, but it must be related to the mission's goal.

   • 2005 February 1, David E. Sanger, Steven R. Weisman, “In U.S., White House and the Democrats Seek an Edge”, in New York Times, retrieved June 30, 2011:

     "But most of all, we need an exit strategy so that we know what victory is and how we can get there."

   • 2009 February 26, David Lawsky, “Silicon Valley: down but not out?”, in Forbes, retrieved June 30, 2011:

     Mergers, acquisitions and IPOs are no longer a reliable exit strategy with capital markets tanking and buyers wary.

   • 2023 June 22, Valerie Hopkins, quoting Emmanuel Macron, “Belarus Is Fast Becoming a ‘Vassal State’ of Russia”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN:

     “If your question is, ‘Do I think we should be more aggressive with Belarus,” my answer is no,” he said, emphasizing that Western leaders needed to offer Mr. Lukashenko an “exit strategy.”

• → German: Exit-Strategie (partial calque)

• exit policy

• “exit strategy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Unadapted borrowing from English exit strategy.

exit strategy f (invariable)

1. exit strategy