collusion

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

Synonyms

• complicity
• connivance
• conspiracy

Examples of collusion in a Sentence

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

The judge became alarmed after Baldwin’s attorneys alleged misconduct, including alleged collusion between the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff’s deputies to conceal potential evidence — a bag of ammunition — from defense attorneys. —Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 July 2024

The Conversation was always more respected than popular; the Watergate myth (promulgated by partisan media) survives as the root of today’s disastrous collusion between the government and the press. —Armond White, National Review, 16 Aug. 2024

An apparent head on labor collusion waiting to happen, the fluid situation turned earlier Saturday as the AMPTP went over the Teamsters’ counterproposal and common ground emerged. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 July 2024

The American public needs more Russian collusion conspiracy theories. —Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, 24 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin collusion-, collusio, from colludere — see collude

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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