conspiracy
kun-SPIR-uh-see
/kənˈspɪrəsi/
A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.
In law, the crime of conspiracy is committed as soon as two or more people agree to commit a crime and take a single step toward it, even if the crime is never finished.
The story behind the word. The Latin root 'conspirare' literally means 'to breathe together'. Imagine a group of people huddled so closely in a secret meeting that they are sharing the same air. This vivid image perfectly captures the intimacy and secrecy of a criminal plot.
Word relationships
- plot: A plot can be for a story or a crime; conspiracy is almost always criminal or harmful.
- collusion: Collusion is a type of conspiracy specifically focused on deceiving others for financial or political gain.
Commonly confused with
- coincidence: A coincidence is an accidental occurrence; a conspiracy is a planned one.
Word family
- conspire (verb): To make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act.
- conspirator (noun): A person who takes part in a conspiracy.
Collocations
- conspiracy theory
- criminal conspiracy
- conspiracy to murder
- uncover a conspiracy
Example sentences
- "The three men were charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery after police found maps and tools in their car." A legal indictment.
- "The Gunpowder Plot was a famous conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament in 1605." A historical event.
Memory hook
Think of 'con' (criminals) 'spiraling' into a secret plan. Conspiracy is 'breathing together' in secret.
When not to use
Do not use for a plan made by a single person; it requires a group.
Fun facts
- In the US, you can be convicted of conspiracy even if the main crime is never carried out.
- The word 'spirit' and 'respiration' share the same root ('spirare').
Related words
Also appears in
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