noun
Uncommon
cartel
kah-TEHL
Cartel (noun) means a group of businesses or organisations that secretly cooperate to control prices or limit competition. Example: “The oil cartel agreed to cut production to raise prices.”
noun
1
A group of businesses or organisations that secretly cooperate to control prices or limit competition.
"Over the past decade, the very nature of organized crime has changed, with many groups diversifying their income beyond drug trafficking, and large cartels splintering into smaller, oftentimes more nimble groups."
— Whitney Eulich, Mexico arrests son of ‘El Chapo’: Why don’t citizens feel safer? (2023)
"The oil cartel agreed to cut production to raise prices."
"Regulators broke up the drug cartel after a years-long investigation."
How to use cartel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group that colludes to control a market or industry, legally (in business) or illegally (as with drug cartels).
Common pairings
drug cartel
oil cartel
break up a cartel
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Word forms
- Plural
- cartels
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The oil _____ agreed to cut production to raise prices.
Etymology
Borrowed from German Kartell in the 19th century, itself from French cartel, ultimately from Italian cartello ("placard"), from Latin charta.
Class of 1800
cartel joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cartel
See all rhymes for cartel →Frequently asked questions
What does “cartel” mean?
The word “cartel” means a group of businesses or organisations that secretly cooperate to control prices or limit competition. In plain terms, a group that colludes to control a market or industry, legally (in business) or illegally (as with drug cartels).
How do you pronounce “cartel”?
“Cartel” is pronounced kah-TEHL (/kɑɹˈtɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “cartel” in a sentence?
Here is “cartel” used in a sentence: “The oil cartel agreed to cut production to raise prices.”
What part of speech is “cartel”?
“Cartel” is a noun.
Where does the word “cartel” come from?
The word “cartel” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Latin. Borrowed from German Kartell in the 19th century, itself from French cartel, ultimately from Italian cartello ("placard"), from Latin charta.
Is “cartel” a common word?
“Cartel” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a cartel and a monopoly?
A cartel is a group of separate businesses or organizations that secretly cooperate to control prices or limit competition, while a monopoly is a single company that dominates a market without needing to collude with others. Cartels rely on agreement among competitors, whereas monopolies achieve control through market dominance alone.
Is forming a cartel legal?
Cartels are generally illegal in most countries because they exist to secretly fix prices or restrict competition, which harms consumers and violates antitrust or competition laws.
What is an example of what a cartel does?
A cartel might involve several businesses secretly agreeing to set the same high prices or to divide up markets between themselves, rather than competing against each other.
