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

The prosecution said the collusion was not a standalone incident but a long-standing, systemic practice that surfaced during a time of global crisis. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Special counsel Robert Mueller ended up charging 34 Russian nationals, but found no collusion between them and the president’s campaign staffers. — Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Players are expected to view these proposals as a legal form of collusion, reminiscent of the 1980s, signaling a potentially prolonged labor dispute. — Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Weiser has promised to fight surprise billing, price collusion by drug companies, and corporate ownership and consolidation of medical practices. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 25 June 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