collusion

[ kuh-loo-zhuhn ]

noun

1. a secret agreement, especially for fraudulent or treacherous purposes; conspiracy:

   Some of his employees were acting in collusion to rob him.

   Synonyms: complicity, connivance, intrigue

2. Law. a secret understanding between two or more persons to gain something illegally, to defraud someone's rights, or to appear as adversaries though in agreement:

   collusion of husband and wife to obtain a divorce.

collusion

/ kəˈluːʒən /

noun

1. secret agreement for a fraudulent purpose; connivance; conspiracy
2. a secret agreement between opponents at law in order to obtain a judicial decision for some wrongful or improper purpose

Derived Forms

• colˈlusive, adjective

Other Words From

• noncol·lusion noun
• precol·lusion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of collusion¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Middle French ) from Latin collūsiōn- (stem of collūsiō ), equivalent to collūs(us) (past participle of collūdere to collude ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of collusion¹

C14: from Latin collūsiō, from collūdere to collude

Example Sentences

Because of the complexity of working out whether specific pricing strategies or prices are the result of collusion, prosecutions have instead relied on communication between companies to establish guilt.

From Singularity Hub 

Such collusion of the banks with these companies restrict the offline traders from conducting smooth business.

From Quartz

If someone else takes the test on the same network — say, in a dorm building — it’s potential “exam collusion.”

From Washington Post

Germany’s biggest daily newspaper, Bild, published an editorial arguing that Merkel’s rhetoric on Russia was meaningless as long as she continued to work “in collusion with Putin” on the pipeline.

From Axios

Police failed to arrive in time to stop the violent assault, and officers were later seen chatting hands-on-shoulder with some of the suspected attackers, fueling widespread suspicions of collusion.

From Quartz

Every 10 years, after the Census, legislators get together and draw district lines in collusion.

From The Daily Beast

They see collusion and deception and they say Ankara is determined to subjugate them.

From The Daily Beast

In terms of dealing with “talent,” collusion is not the only way the Valley oligarchs work to keep wages down.

From The Daily Beast

Over investment, under consumption; oversaving, undervaluing currency, plus collusion between state and business.

From The Daily Beast

This was a matter of routine in a sport with a culture of collusion and cheating.

From The Daily Beast

Robertet brought the required documents, showing a devotion which might be called collusion.

From Project Gutenberg

Plaster and enormous spiders dropped (not, of course in collusion) from the ceilings in the dark.

From Project Gutenberg

The hired advocate may calumniate as he will, but he can show no collusion or connivance on your part.

From Project Gutenberg

Being twins, we are much alike and always under suspicion of what Uncle John used to call “collusion.”

From Project Gutenberg

Twelve dozen, solid silver and teaset to match, bought without consulting us, by your two rich bachelor uncles in collusion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• complicity
• conspiracy
• deceit
• scam