syndicate
A group of individuals or organizations combined to promote a common interest, often associated with organized crime.
While it can refer to legitimate business groups (like a news syndicate), in criminology, it implies a highly structured, often international, criminal association.
Word relationships
- consortium: Usually refers to a legitimate association of financial institutions.
- cabal: Focuses more on secret political plotting than business or crime.
- individual: A single person acting alone rather than in a group.
Commonly confused with
- cartel: A cartel is specifically a group of producers who control prices, while a syndicate is a more general term for a cooperative group.
Word family
- syndicated (adjective): Published or broadcast simultaneously in many outlets.
- syndication (noun): The act of forming a syndicate.
Collocations
- crime syndicate
- international syndicate
- syndicate leader
- organized syndicate
Example sentences
- "The crime syndicate had established a firm grip on the city's docks, controlling every shipment that entered the harbor." Describing the reach of a criminal organization.
- "The syndicate was a shadow government, with its own laws and its own brutal enforcement." A classic literary reference to organized crime.
Memory hook
Think of 'sin' + 'indicate'. The group indicates where the sin (crime) is happening together. A syndicate is a 'sin-dictate'—a group that dictates how crime happens.
When not to use
Do not use for a small, disorganized group of petty thieves; it implies a level of professional coordination.
Fun facts
- The term was famously used by the 'Chicago Syndicate' led by Al Capone.
- In the 19th century, it was almost exclusively a financial term for investment groups.
Related words
Explore more words
syndicated, syndication, simulcast, disseminate, columnist, consortium
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