collude

verb

col·​lude kə-ˈlüd 

colluded; colluding; colludes

intransitive verb

: to work together secretly especially in order to do something illegal or dishonest : conspire, plot

It was arithmetically possible, too, for a handful of senators … to collude with the president to approve a treaty betraying some vital interest to a foreign power.

—Jack N. Rakove

… the travails of the world's two biggest art-auction businesses, … rivals that now stand accused by the U.S. Justice Department of colluding to rig the auction market by fixing their sales-commission rates.

—Robert Hughes

… argues that while the kids are not entitled to collective representation, major universities are permitted to collude to prevent players from being paid for their work.

—David Sirota

Did you know?

Collude Has Latin Roots

The Latin prefix col-, meaning "together," and the verb ludere, "to play," come together to form collude. The related noun collusion has the specific meaning "secret agreement or cooperation." Despite their playful history, collude and collusion have always suggested deceit or trickery rather than good-natured fun.

Synonyms

• compass
• connive
• conspire
• contrive
• intrigue
• machinate
• plot
• put up
• scheme

Examples of collude in a Sentence

The two companies had colluded to fix prices.

accused of colluding to block the sale of the vacant land

Recent Examples on the Web

In October, a federal jury found the NAR and some major brokerages liable for colluding to inflate commission fees, ordering the trade group to pay a historic $1.78 billion in damages. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2024

Algorithms might help hotels illegally collude on prices, even if no humans from those businesses actually talk to each other about them, according to US antitrust enforcers. —Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 28 Mar. 2024

Unexplored questions about the condition of the body and items found nearby have led her to speculate that Lindbergh colluded with Dr. Carrel, his friend who worked at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York City, to experiment on his son. —Tracey Tully, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024

That celebrities might on some level collude with the paparazzi is, at this point, obvious. —Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2024

On Friday, the Democratic National Committee filed an FEC filing against Kennedy's campaign and his super PAC, claiming the two are colluding to get Kennedy on the ballot. —Cristina Corujo, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2024

Li and Chan were charged with colluding with foreign forces, alongside Lai. —Shibani Mahtani, Washington Post, 17 Dec. 2023

The Justice Department last sued Apple in 2012, accusing the company of colluding with book publishers to fix e-book prices. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024

When price information is hidden, hospitals and health insurers can collude to overcharge us with impunity–hence the outrageous health care cost increases burdening ordinary Americans. —Kevin Lyons, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin colludere, from com- + ludere to play, from ludus game — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined above

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Legal Definition

collude

intransitive verb

col·​lude kə-ˈlüd 

colluded; colluding

: to agree or cooperate secretly for a fraudulent or otherwise illegal purpose