connivance

or con·niv·ence

[ kuh-nahy-vuhns ]

noun

1. the act of conniving.
2. Law.
   1. tacit encouragement or assent (without participation) to wrongdoing by another.
   2. the consent by a person to a spouse's conduct, especially adultery, that is later made the basis of a divorce proceeding or other complaint.

connivance

/ kəˈnaɪvəns /

noun

1. the act or fact of conniving
2. law the tacit encouragement of or assent to another's wrongdoing, esp (formerly) of the petitioner in a divorce suit to the respondent's adultery

Other Words From

• noncon·nivance noun
• noncon·nivence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of connivance¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier connivence, from French or directly from Latin connīventia; connive, -ence, -ance

Example Sentences

With the connivance of federal judges who wish to keep their dockets pared down, big corporations force aggrieved consumers and workers into arbitration, where the latter are at a disadvantage.

From Los Angeles Times

"The connivance is hurting the system of value investment, encouraging misbehaviours, and is negative to long-term health of the market."

From Reuters

To be clear, we do not know yet whether the Hamas attacks were planned with Iran’s blessing or connivance.

From Seattle Times

In February 2008, he gave evidence at the inquest into the deaths claiming the couple had been murdered on the orders of Prince Philip and with the connivance of MI6.

From BBC

Adedayo said logging in protected areas “is not possible without the connivance of the civil servants.”

From Seattle Times