noun
syndicate
SIHN-dih-kuht
noun
1
A group of people or companies who join together to run a business venture or pursue a shared interest.
"A syndicate of local investors bought the old cinema."
2
An organized group of criminals working together, especially in large-scale crime.
"Police say the drugs were smuggled in by an international syndicate."
3
A media agency, or the network it supplies, that sells the same articles, comic strips, or shows to many outlets at once.
"Her advice column runs in dozens of papers through a national syndicate."
verb
1
To sell or distribute content (such as a column, show, or cartoon) to many outlets through such an agency.
"The radio show is syndicated to over 200 stations."
2
To organize a group to jointly fund or run a venture.
"The banks syndicated the loan to spread out the risk."
How to Use Syndicate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group — of investors, criminals, or media companies — acting together as one unit; or, as a verb, to distribute something through such a network.
Common pairings
crime syndicate
syndicated column
loan syndicate
Word Forms
syndicated past tense, syndicates plural, syndicates singular
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A _____ of local investors bought the old cinema.
Etymology
From French syndicat ("board of representatives"), from syndic, ultimately from Ancient Greek sundikos, "advocate for a defendant" — built from syn- ("with") and dike ("justice").