collusion

1 of 2

noun

col·​lu·​sion kə-ˈlü-zhən 

: secret agreement or cooperation especially for an illegal or deceitful purpose

acting in collusion with the enemy

collusive

kə-ˈlü-siv 

-ziv

adjective

collusively adverb

collusive

2 of 2

adjective

col·​lu·​sive kə-ˈlü-siv 

-ziv

1

: constituting, marked by, or done with collusion : fraudulent

collusive agreement between pope and king

—G. M. Trevelyan

collusive bidding arrangements by contractors ostensibly competing

2

: given to or acting in collusion

collusive parties

—Edmund Burke

collusively adverb

Synonyms of collusion

Noun

• conspiracy
• complicity

Examples of collusion in a Sentence

Noun

The company was acting in collusion with manufacturers to inflate prices.

there was collusion between the two companies to fix prices

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

During the Senate hearing, Dan Meyer, a Vice President of Pierce Manufacturing, was asked about allegations of collusion among the makers of fire apparatus. — Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

In Japan, this has meant not only a great deal of collusion between yakuza gangs and law enforcement but also considerable overlap between crime and politics—especially, though not exclusively, right-wing politics. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Kaepernick said that amid his collusion grievance, the NFL approached him and teammate Eric Reid, who knelt with him, about becoming faces of a new social justice campaign. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2026

In 2012, the Department of Justice sued Apple and major book publishers for collusion. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English collusioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French collusion, borrowed from Latin collūsiōn-, collūsiō, from collūdere "to play (with), make sport, collude" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

Adjective

collusion + -ive

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for collusion

• allusion
• conclusion
• confusion
• contusion
• delusion
• diffusion
• effusion
• exclusion
• extrusion
• illusion
• inclusion
• infusion

Kids Definition

collusion

noun

col·​lu·​sion kə-ˈlü-zhən 

: secret agreement or cooperation for an illegal or dishonest purpose

collusive

-ˈlü-siv 

-ziv

adjective

Legal Definition

collusion

noun

col·​lu·​sion kə-ˈlü-zhən 

: the act or an instance of colluding

collusive

-siv 

adjective