complicity

noun

com·​plic·​i·​ty kəm-ˈpli-s(ə-)tē How to pronounce complicity (audio)
plural complicities
1
: association or participation in or as if in a wrongful act
arrested for complicity in the crime
2
: an instance of complicity
The two share a complicity she calls fraternal.Joan Dupont

Examples of complicity in a Sentence

There's no proof of her complicity in the murder. He acted with his brother's complicity.
Recent Examples on the Web
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This week, a dozen human rights and legal groups said that any country backing GHF could potentially be liable for complicity in war crimes. Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 June 2025 Despite all the indignities to which it’s been subjected, the show closes with its most unsparing season yet, an indictment of societies where money trumps humanity that roots out all forms of complicity—especially our own. Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025 The dog’s owner, who owns the home where the incident took place, was found guilty of complicity to commit endangering children on June 13, according to prosecutors. Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2025 Since late 2023, McDonald's has also been battling a boycott led by the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement for alleged complicity with the actions of the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for complicity

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French complicité, borrowed from New Latin complicitāt-, complicitās, formed from Late Latin complic-, complex "fellow-participant, partner, accomplice" and Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity, probably after Late Latin duplicitās duplicity — more at complice

Note: The formation of the word is peculiar in that Latin -itāt-, -itās, along with its descendants and borrowings, is rarely added to nouns. Outside of the dictionaries of Thomas Blount and Elisha Coles, complicity is rare to non-existent in English text before the later eighteenth century, when its adoption was probably stimulated by French complicité.

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complicity was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicity. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

complicity

noun
com·​plic·​i·​ty kəm-ˈplis-ət-ē How to pronounce complicity (audio)
plural complicities
: association or participation in a wrongful act

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