Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense colludes, present participle colluding, past tense, past participle colluded
verb
If one person colludeswith another, they co-operate with them secretly or illegally.
[disapproval]
Several local officials are in jail on charges of colluding with the Mafia. [VERB + with]
My mother colluded in the myth of him as the swanky businessman. [VERB + in]
The two companies were colluding to exploit consumers. [VERB]
[Also pl-n V to-inf]
Synonyms: conspire, scheme, plot, intrigue More Synonyms of collude
collude in British English
(kəˈluːd)
verb
(intransitive)
to conspire together, esp in planning a fraud; connive
Derived forms
colluder (colˈluder)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin collūdere, literally: to play together, hence, conspire together, from com- together + lūdere to play
collude in American English
(kəˈlud)
verb intransitiveWord forms: colˈluded or colˈluding
to act in collusion or conspire, esp. for a fraudulent purpose
Word origin
L colludere < com-, with + ludere, to play: see ludicrous
Examples of 'collude' in a sentence
collude
They alleged he had colluded with rivals in rigging bids for oil leases.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Investigators examining interbank lending during the financial crisis are looking at whether a cartel of banks colluded to keep borrowing costs down.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Officers are also said to have colluded in a cover-up.
The Sun (2013)
More than a hundred construction companies were fined nearly 130 million yesterday after illegally colluding in bids to secure building projects, including schoolsand hospitals.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
(verb)
Definition
to cooperate secretly or dishonestly with someone
Several local officials are in jail on charges of colluding with criminal gangs.
Synonyms
conspire
I had a persecution complex and thought people were conspiring against me.
scheme
Everyone's always scheming and plotting.
plot
They are awaiting trial for plotting against the state.
intrigue
The main characters spend their time intriguing for control.
collaborate
He was accused of having collaborated with the secret police.
contrive
The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to justify price increases.
abet
connive
Senior politicians connived to ensure that he was not released.
be in cahoots (informal)
machinate
complot
Additional synonyms
in the sense of collaborate
Definition
to cooperate with an enemy invader
He was accused of having collaborated with the secret police.
Synonyms
conspire,
cooperate,
collude,
fraternize
in the sense of connive
Definition
to conspire
Senior politicians connived to ensure that he was not released.
Synonyms
conspire,
scheme,
plot,
intrigue,
collude,
cabal
in the sense of contrive
Definition
to devise or construct ingeniously
The oil companies were accused of contriving a shortage of gasoline to justify price increases.