conspiracy
[ kuhn-spir-uh-see ]
/ kənˈspɪr ə si /
noun, plural con·spir·a·cies.
the act of conspiring.
an evil, unlawful, treacherous, or surreptitious plan formulated in secret by two or more persons; plot.
a combination of persons for a secret, unlawful, or evil purpose: He joined the conspiracy to overthrow the government.
Law.
an agreement by two or more persons to commit a crime, fraud, or other wrongful act.
any concurrence in action; combination in bringing about a given result.
Origin of conspiracy
1325–75; Middle English
conspiracie, probably < Anglo-French; see
conspire,
-acy; replacing Middle English
conspiracioun; see
conspiration
synonym study for conspiracy
2.
Conspiracy,
plot,
intrigue,
cabal all refer to surreptitious or covert schemes to accomplish some end, most often an evil one. A
conspiracy usually involves a group entering into a secret agreement to achieve some illicit or harmful objective:
a vicious conspiracy to control prices. A
plot is a carefully planned secret scheme, usually by a small number of persons, to secure sinister ends:
a plot to seize control of a company. An
intrigue usually involves duplicity and deceit aimed at achieving either personal advantage or criminal or treasonous objectives:
the petty intrigues of civil servants.
Cabal refers either to a plan by a small group of highly-placed persons to overthrow or control a government, or to the group of persons themselves:
a cabal of powerful lawmakers.
OTHER WORDS FROM conspiracy
Words nearby conspiracy
Example sentences from the Web for conspiratorial
British Dictionary definitions for conspiratorial
conspiracy
/ (kənˈspɪrəsɪ) /
noun plural -cies
a secret plan or agreement to carry out an illegal or harmful act, esp with political motivation; plot
the act of making such plans in secret