What does "conspiracy" mean?
An agreement or arrangement between multiple parties to do something harmful, immoral or subversive; an instance of collusion.
Conspiracy
/kənˈspəɹəsi/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An agreement or arrangement between multiple parties to do something harmful, immoral or subversive; an instance of collusion.
- Grammar: conspiracy is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: accompaniment, accordance, addition, affiliation.
- Useful contrasts: evidence, fact, legality.
- Usage evidence: Without a moment's hesitation, they took drastic action against the conspiracy.
How to use "conspiracy"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "conspiracy" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "conspiracy" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "conspiracy" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "conspiracy" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "conspiracy" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accompaniment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "conspiracy", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An agreement or arrangement between multiple parties to do something harmful, immoral or subversive; an instance of collusion. countable, uncountable
"Conspiracies, like all other exercises of human ingenuity, are of very different kinds. The gloomy plots arranged in old Italian halls..."
- 2 a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot) wordnet
- 3 An agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future. countable, uncountable
- 4 a secret agreement between two or more people to perform an unlawful act wordnet
- 5 A secret agreement to do something. broadly, countable, uncountable
"The former programme of the entertainments, which were to result from this generous conspiracy to assist a man whom fortune had buffeted, was eagerly looked for, not only for the reunion of old favorites that it promised to bring about, but out of sympathy for the sentiment which has prompted this graceful act of kindness."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 a group of conspirators banded together to achieve some harmful or illegal purpose wordnet
- 7 An agreement to work together to bring something about; an act or instance of conspiring. broadly, countable, uncountable
"But this I call civil life […] living [together] in good and politic order, one ever ready to do good to another, and as it were conspiring [together] in all virtue and honesty. […] You said right now that this civil life was a politic order and, as it were, a conspiracy in honesty and virtue, […]"
- 8 A group of ravens. collective, countable, rare, uncountable
- 9 A group of lemurs. collective, countable, rare, uncountable
"Indeed, as I sat, forlorn, never having found my particular conspiracy of lemurs (how about that for a name for a group of lemurs? The name lemur itself comes from the Latin for “spirits of the dead”) …"
- 10 A situation in which different phonological or grammatical rules lead to similar or related outcomes. countable, uncountable
"That is, further exploration of phonological systems of various languages may turn up evidence motivating conspiracies that have been regarded thus far as impossible.[…]This study of labial palatalization conspiracy is a contribution to the 'too many solutions'/'too few data' problem."
- 11 A conspiracy theory; a hypothesis alleging conspiracy. countable, proscribed, uncountable
"Rather than propagating conspiracies about the evils of wealthy Jewry, they beat up poor Roma in back alleys."
Verb
- 1 To conspire. proscribed, rare
"He knew I would come for him when I discovered what he did, so he, he conspiracied to put me in prison."
Example
"Without a moment's hesitation, they took drastic action against the conspiracy."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "conspiracy"?
Common synonyms include: accompaniment, accordance, addition, affiliation, agglomeration, aggregation.
How do you use "conspiracy" in a sentence?
Without a moment's hesitation, they took drastic action against the conspiracy.
How do you pronounce "conspiracy"?
Pronounced /kənˈspəɹəsi/.
Etymology
From Middle English conspiracie, from Anglo-Norman conspiracie, from Latin cōnspīrātiō, from conspire + -acy.