cartel

noun

car·​tel kär-ˈtel 

1

: a written agreement between belligerent nations

2

: a combination of independent commercial or industrial enterprises designed to limit competition or fix prices

illegal drug cartels

3

: a combination of political groups for common action

Did you know?

The literal meaning of Italian cartello, a derivative of carta, “leaf of paper,” is “placard.” The word is also used for a letter of defiance or a challenge. In this sense the Italian word was borrowed into Middle French as cartel, and the French word was borrowed into English. In English, a cartel was originally a letter of defiance. Later the word came to be used for a written agreement between warring nations to regulate such matters as the treatment and exchange of prisoners. Another type of agreement, a combination of commercial enterprises, is now called a cartel.

Did you know?

A cartel is an organization of a few independent producers for the purpose of improving the profitability of the firms involved. This usually involves some restriction of output, control of price, and allocation of market shares. Members of a cartel generally maintain their separate identities and financial independence while engaging in cooperative policies. Cartels can either be domestic or international. Because cartels restrict competition and result in higher prices for consumers, they are outlawed in some countries. The only industry operating in the U.S. with a blanket exemption from the antitrust laws is major-league baseball.

Synonyms

• combination
• combine
• syndicate
• trust

Examples of cartel in a Sentence

a cartel of oil-producing nations that controls production and influences prices

Recent Examples on the Web

The thrust of the case is an assertion the defendants have operated as a cartel and have conspired to unlawfully price fix, namely with respect to earning opportunities for players and in locking them into obligations to compete exclusively for approved tournaments. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 May 2025

Read Next National Immigration attorney made unwanted advances to client seeking visa, IN suit says May 8, 2025 10:51 AM Read Next Texas Border agent helped cartel smuggle drugs, migrants into US, feds say. —Kate Linderman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2025

Gaps in border security mean gaps that cartels can circumvent. —Joel Thayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025

Parker reluctantly agrees to work with Kansas City mob boss Carla Marino, who turns out to be the secret cartel head. —Sara Netzley, EW.com, 6 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, letter of defiance, from Old Italian cartello, literally, placard, from carta leaf of paper — more at card entry 1

First Known Use

1692, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cartel

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel
• dispel

Kids Definition

cartel

noun

car·​tel kär-ˈtel 

: a combination of business firms to control world markets and fix prices