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collusion

kuh-LOO-zhuhn /kəˈluːʒən/

nounC1GREGMAT

formallegalpolitical

Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others.

Collusion implies a secret agreement between two or more parties to act together, often to limit competition, deceive a third party, or achieve an illegal objective. It's about a hidden partnership for illicit gain.

The story behind the word. The word 'collusion' comes from the Latin 'colludere,' meaning 'to play together,' 'to conspire.' This root is formed from 'com-' (together) and 'ludere' (to play). While 'play' might sound innocent, in this context, it refers to playing a game of deception together, often against a third party. It entered English in the 15th century, specifically referring to secret agreements for fraudulent or illegal purposes, highlighting the deceptive 'game' being played.

Word relationships

conspiracy: A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful, often with a broader scope than collusion.
connivance: The act of secretly allowing something illegal or immoral to happen, often by ignoring it.
cahoots (informal): Informal term for secret partnership or agreement, usually for a dishonest purpose.

competition: The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.
transparency: Openness and clarity in actions and dealings.

Word family

collude (verb): To cooperate in a secret or unlawful way in order to deceive or defraud others.

Collocations

allegations of collusion
collusion with
illegal collusion
evidence of collusion

Example sentences

"The two major airlines were accused of price-fixing through illegal collusion, harming consumers." Reporting on a business investigation.
"Allegations of collusion between the campaign and foreign entities sparked a lengthy investigation." Discussing political ethics.

Memory hook

COLLUSION is when people 'co-LOO-se' (co-loose) together, secretly working to cheat others, like loose threads woven together to hide a flaw. Co-loose together

When not to use

Do not use 'collusion' for open, legitimate cooperation or for individual acts of fraud. It requires a secret, cooperative effort.

Fun facts

Collusion is a key concept in antitrust law, where companies are forbidden from colluding to fix prices or divide markets.