conspiracy

[ kuhn-spir-uh-see ]

noun

, plural con·spir·a·cies.

1. the act of conspiring.

   Synonyms: sedition, collusion

2. an unlawful, harmful, or evil plan formulated in secret by two or more persons; plot.
3. a combination of persons for such an unlawful, harmful, or evil purpose:

   He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the government.

4. Law. an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act.
5. any concurrence in action; combination in bringing about a given result.

conspiracy

/ kənˈspɪrəsɪ; kənˌspɪrəˈtɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. a secret plan or agreement to carry out an illegal or harmful act, esp with political motivation; plot
2. the act of making such plans in secret

Derived Forms

• conˌspiraˈtorially, adverb
• conˈspirator, noun
• conspiratorial, adjective

Other Words From

• con·spir·a·tive adjective
• con·spir·a·to·ri·al [k, uh, n-spir-, uh, -, tawr, -ee-, uh, l], con·spir·a·to·ry adjective
• pre·con·spir·a·cy noun plural preconspiracies

Word History and Origins

Origin of conspiracy¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English conspiracie, probably from Anglo-French; conspire, -acy; replacing Middle English conspiracioun; conspiration

Synonym Study

Conspiracy, plot, intrigue, cabal all refer to surreptitious or covert schemes to accomplish some end, most often an evil one. A conspiracy usually involves a group entering into a secret agreement to achieve some illicit or harmful objective: a vicious conspiracy to control prices. A plot is a carefully planned secret scheme, usually by a small number of persons, to secure sinister ends: a plot to seize control of a company. An intrigue usually involves duplicity and deceit aimed at achieving either personal advantage or criminal or treasonous objectives: the petty intrigues of civil servants. Cabal refers either to a plan by a small group of highly-placed persons to overthrow or control a government, or to the group of persons themselves: a cabal of powerful lawmakers.

Example Sentences

The male relative was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime and the unlawful transfer of a firearm.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Slater's disappearance drew intense speculation and conspiracy theories, with his family and friends also becoming subject to online abuse.

From BBC

Carlson described Epps as a principal in a false flag operation in which the government incited the Jan. 6 riot, an unfounded conspiracy theory.

From Los Angeles Times

Pidgeon said the family wanted to dispel any conspiracy theories that Ryan was involved in any way in his daughter’s disappearance.

From Los Angeles Times

People turned out by the millions to vote for a lying conspiracy theorist in Donald Trump because they are drowning in social media-driven nonsense and struggle to tell fact from fiction.

From Salon

Related Words

• plot
• scheme
• sedition
• treason

More About Conspiracy

What does conspiracy mean?

Conspiracy most commonly means a secret plan by multiple people to do something evil or illegal.

Conspiracy can also refer to the act of making such plans—the act of conspiring—or to the group making the plans. The people involved can be called conspirators.

In a legal context, conspiracy refers to an agreement by two or more people to commit a crime.

A conspiracy theory is an explanation of an event that claims it was the result of a secret and often complex and evil plot by multiple people. People who promote or formulate conspiracy theories often reject the standard or accepted explanation of unexplained or unusual events and claim that they are the doing of evil conspirators secretly conspiring behind the scenes.

Both conspiracy and conspiracy theory are often used in the context of politics.

Example: This isn’t the work of one man—it’s a conspiracy, and there are more people in on it than you think!

Where does conspiracy come from?

The first records of the word conspiracy come from the 1300s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb conspīrāre, meaning “to act in harmony” or “to conspire.” It comes from the combination of con-, meaning “together,” and spīrāre, “to breathe.” The suffix -acy indicates a state of action—the state or act of conspiring.

When people hear the word conspiracy, they often think of shady people making shady plans in shady backrooms. The word typically implies both secrecy and evil—people involved in conspiracies are up to no good and they’re trying to hide it. The word is especially associated with bizarre conspiracy theories, but some conspiracies are very real. When people plan to commit a crime together, it’s a criminal conspiracy.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to conspiracy?

• conspire (verb)
• conspirator (noun)
• conspiratorial (adjective)
• conspirative (adjective)
• conspiratory (adjective)
• conspiratorially (adverb)

What are some synonyms for conspiracy?

• plot
• scheme

What are some words that share a root or word element with conspiracy? 

• conspiracy theory
• spirit

What are some words that often get used in discussing conspiracy?

 

• theory
• government
• political
• evil
• secret
• hidden
• massive
• cabal

How is conspiracy used in real life?

Conspiracy is always used negatively. It’s commonly used in the term conspiracy theory.

The new doc “Church and the Fourth Estate” profiles Adam Steed, a Mormon who was abused in the Boy Scouts and blew the whistle on a conspiracy involving the Scouts and LDS Churchhttps://t.co/arYPCbg5up

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) January 30, 2020

We are learning so much about so many people. All the bigotries are being exposed. Allies who are only allies until their friends get called out, people who don’t believe in racism, transphobes, idiot conspiracy theorists. It’s a lot.

— roxane gay (@rgay) July 5, 2020

Body: time to sleep

Brain: okay just reading one more conspiracy theory about Justin Bieber shapeshifting into a lizard

— Phil Lester (@AmazingPhil) March 19, 2017

 

 

Try using conspiracy!

Is conspiracy used correctly in the following sentence?

The conspiracy consisted of several top-ranking officials.