manewr

Manewr is a Polish noun meaning a planned movement or sequence of actions intended to achieve a specific objective. It denotes a deliberate, coordinated act rather than a spasm of motion. The term is used in military, transportation, and everyday contexts; in English, it corresponds to maneuver or manoeuvre, depending on dialect.

The word is borrowed from the French manœuvre (manœuvrer), dating to early modern borrowings into Polish. The form reflects the same roots found in many European languages that distinguish a careful, purposeful sequence of actions from a random motion.

In a military context, a manewr refers to a planned movement of units, weapons, or forces to gain positional advantage, often as part of larger operations or doctrine. The concept has been central to maneuver warfare, a doctrine that emphasizes movement, tempo, and deception to disrupt an adversary's decision cycle.

In driving and other civilian applications, a manewr describes a controlled operation of a vehicle—such as overtaking, turning, or parking—carried out under safe conditions. In aviation or maritime contexts the term similarly indicates a deliberate flight path or sailing maneuver.

In sport and performing arts, manewr may describe a choreographed sequence of movements intended to achieve a specific artistic or tactical effect. The term remains common in Polish to convey the idea of purposeful, strategic action across many fields.