noun
conspiracy
kuhn-SPIH-ruh-see
noun
1
A secret plan made by two or more people to do something harmful or illegal.
"The trial uncovered a conspiracy to defraud investors."
"They were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud."
2
A theory claiming that a secret group is responsible for an event, often without solid evidence.
"He believes every conspiracy theory he reads online."
How to Use Conspiracy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA secret plot between people, or a theory claiming one exists.
Common pairings
conspiracy theory
conspiracy to commit
a wide-ranging conspiracy
Word Forms
conspiracied past tense, conspiracies plural, conspiracies singular
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Etymology
From Anglo-Norman conspiracie, from Latin conspiratio, formed from conspire plus -acy.