syndicate

1 of 3

noun (1)

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-kət 

1

a

: a council or body of syndics

b

: the office or jurisdiction of a syndic

2

: an association of persons officially authorized to undertake a duty or negotiate business

3

a

: a group of persons or concerns who combine to carry out a particular transaction or project

b

: cartel sense 2

c

: a loose association of racketeers in control of organized crime

4

: a business concern that sells materials for publication in a number of newspapers or periodicals simultaneously

5

: a group of newspapers under one management

syndicate

2 of 3

verb

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-də-ˌkāt 

syndicated; syndicating

transitive verb

1

: to subject to or manage as a syndicate

2

a

: to sell (something, such as a cartoon) to a syndicate or for publication in many newspapers or periodicals at once

also : to sell the work of (someone, such as a writer) in this way

a syndicated columnist

b

: to sell (something, such as a series of television programs) directly to local stations

intransitive verb

: to unite to form a syndicate

syndicator

ˈsin-də-ˌkā-tər 

noun

syndication

3 of 3

noun (2)

syn·​di·​ca·​tion ˌsin-də-ˈkā-shən 

1

: an act or instance of forming a syndicate or bringing something under the control of a syndicate

real estate syndication

2

a

: the act of selling something (such as a newspaper column or television series) for publication or broadcast to multiple newspapers, periodicals, websites, stations, etc.

the syndication of news articles and video footage

b

: the state of being syndicated to multiple newspapers, periodicals, websites, stations, etc.

a popular TV show that has made millions in syndication

Synonyms of syndicate

Noun (1)

• Mafia
• gang
• network
• conspiracy
• crew
• mob

Examples of syndicate in a Sentence

Noun (1)

A syndicate owns the company.

a powerful banking syndicate that controls loans in the small country

Verb

The company syndicates her work.

The company syndicated the show to local stations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Frenchman’s appeal centered on his contention that Mick Lescure, another former French tennis player who was banned for life for match-fixing in 2022, had made a false accusation alleging Bensoussan’s involvement in the match-fixing syndicate. — James Hansen, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Rather than working in large criminal syndicates as many Westerners assume, Yahoo Boys typically work alone, asking victims for money – most often in the form of gift cards. — Mackenzie Farkus, Christian Science Monitor, 13 July 2026

Verb

The show ran for more than two decades, featured on local television before being nationally syndicated. — Paul Edward Parker, The Providence Journal, 16 July 2026

Norman brought the show to New York and it was syndicated until 1976. — Jared Bahir Browsh, The Conversation, 15 July 2026

Noun

Gilbert first joined Jeopardy with host Alex Trebek when the show entered syndication in 1984. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 July 2026

Its sequels were mined for a beloved 1970s TV show, Little House on the Prairie, that still runs in syndication and will be rebooted on Netflix for a whole new generation in a series that premieres July 9. — Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French syndicat, from syndic

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1882, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1874, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing syndicate

• in syndication

Kids Definition

syndicate

1 of 2 noun

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-kət 

1

: an association of persons involved in some official duty or business

2

: an association of people involved in organized crime

3

: a business concern that sells materials for publication at the same time in a number of newspapers or magazines

syndicate

2 of 2 verb

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-də-ˌkāt 

syndicated; syndicating

1

: to operate as a syndicate

2

: to sell (as a cartoon) for publication in several newspapers or magazines at once

also : to sell the work of (as a writer) in this way

a syndicated columnist

3

: to join to form a syndicate

syndication

ˌsin-də-ˈkā-shən 

noun

syndicator

ˈsin-də-ˌkāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

syndicate

1 of 2 noun

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-kət 

1

: a group organized to carry out a particular transaction or enterprise

2

: an association of organized criminals

syndicate

2 of 2 verb

syn·​di·​cate ˈsin-di-ˌkāt 

syndicated; syndicating

transitive verb

: to form or manage as or through a syndicate

a syndicated tax shelter

intransitive verb

: to unite to form a syndicate

syndication

ˌsin-di-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Etymology

Noun

French syndicat the office or jurisdiction of a syndic