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

• conspiracy
• complicity

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

Droney found there was no collusion, saying league officials presenting economic information to owners is not indicative of collusion. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2025

In the United Kingdom, regulators warned that AI systems used in energy markets could unintentionally enable tacit collusion between suppliers. —Gopinath Kathiresan, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025

The alleged collusion appears to be related to Department of Justice official Desiree Leigh Grace, who was tapped by the New Jersey judges to replace Habba until Attorney General Pam Bondi fired Grace. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2025

Horror also has come at the hands of the West’s collusion and Arab governments’ indifference, which is no different from complicity. —Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025

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

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