cartel

[ kahr-tel ]

noun

1. an international syndicate, combine, or trust formed especially to regulate prices and output in some field of business.

   Synonyms: combination, merger, monopoly

2. a coalition of political or special-interest groups having a common cause, as to encourage the passage of a certain law.
3. a written agreement between belligerents, especially for the exchange of prisoners.
4. a written challenge to a duel.

cartel

/ kɑːˈtɛl /

noun

1. Also calledtrust a collusive international association of independent enterprises formed to monopolize production and distribution of a product or service, control prices, etc
2. politics an alliance of parties or interests to further common aims

cartel

1. An association in which producers of a similar or identical product try to obtain a monopoly over the sale of the product.

Notes

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) is a cartel.

Other Words From

• car·telism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartel¹

1550–60; < Middle French < Italian cartello letter of defiance, poster, equivalent to cart ( a ) carte + -ello diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartel¹

C20: from German Kartell, from French, from Italian cartello a written challenge, public notice, diminutive of carta card ¹

Example Sentences

On the other end is “El Mal,” a driving condemnation of the terrible people — murderers, corrupt politicians — contributing to the onetime drug lord’s charity aiming to locate the remains of cartel victims.

From Los Angeles Times

Writing on X, Carr said he was "humbled and honoured" to take the role, and would set about his plan to "dismantle the censorship cartel".

From BBC

The names of full-fledged undercover officers — who work deep-cover operations with outlaw biker gangs, terrorist groups or drug cartels — are kept out of department records and are known to only a handful of superiors.

From Los Angeles Times

A cartel war that has engulfed a major city.

From Los Angeles Times

According to Quinn, once drug cartels and other criminal operators gain a foothold into how a food business operates, they spot other opportunities.

From BBC

Related Words

• conglomerate
• consortium
• corporation
• gang
• holding company
• mob
• monopoly
• ring
• syndicate