Conspiracy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kən-ˈspir-ə-sē/ con·spir·a·cy

Meaning & Definition of Conspiracy

Conspiracy (noun)

  1. the act of conspiring together
  2. an agreement among conspirators
  3. a group of conspirators

Conspiracy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a group involved in secret or criminal activities

    "members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake"

    similar: cabal, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate
    related: bunch, circle, clan, clique, coterie, coven, crowd, galère, lot, network, pack, set, junta, oligarchy

  2. a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose

    "a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices"

    similar: collusion, complicity, connivance
    related: chicanery, foul play, skulduggery, double-dealing, duplicity, cover-up, frame-up, setup, conspiration, intrigue, plot, scheme

  3. a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends

    "several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government"

    similar: design, intrigue, machination, plot, scheme
    related: counterconspiracy, counterplot, frame-up, manipulation, subterfuge, trickery, artifice, contrivance, cover-up, dodge, draft, maneuver, stratagem, trick, cabal, confederacy, ring, game, gimmick, racket, ground plan, program, strategy, system, collusion, complicity, connivance, conniving, conspiration

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Conspiracy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Conspiracy:

cabal, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate, collusion, complicity, connivance, design, intrigue, machination, plot, scheme

Related Words for Conspiracy

bunch, circle, clan, clique, coterie, coven, crowd, galère, lot, network, pack, set, junta, oligarchy, chicanery, foul play, skulduggery, double-dealing, duplicity, cover-up, frame-up, setup, conspiration, counterconspiracy, counterplot, manipulation, subterfuge, trickery, artifice, contrivance

Word Forms of Conspiracy

Inflections: conspiracies

Origin & Etymology of Conspiracy

Middle English conspiracie, from Latin conspirare see conspire

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Conspiracy

Words & Phrases Containing Conspiracy

conspiracy of silence, conspiracy theorist, conspiracy theory, counterconspiracy

Frequently Asked Questions about Conspiracy

What does "Conspiracy" mean?

"Conspiracy" means the act of conspiring together. As a noun, it is defined as: the act of conspiring together. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Conspiracy"?

Other words for "Conspiracy" include cabal, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate and collusion. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Conspiracy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Conspiracy"?

There are 59 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Conspiracy". Common alternatives include cabal, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate, collusion, complicity and connivance.

How do you use "Conspiracy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Conspiracy" in a sentence: "members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake"; "a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices"; "several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government".

Is "Conspiracy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Conspiracy" is a noun.

Is "Conspiracy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Conspiracy" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Conspiracy"?

"Conspiracy" is pronounced /kən-ˈspir-ə-sē/ and divided into syllables as con·spir·a·cy.

What is the origin of the word "Conspiracy"?

"Conspiracy" comes from Middle English conspiracie, from Latin conspirare see conspire. First known use: 14th century.