conspiracy
noun
con·spir·a·cy kən-ˈspir-ə-sē 
plural conspiracies
1
: the act of conspiring together
They were accused of conspiracy to commit murder.
2
a
: an agreement among conspirators
uncovered a conspiracy against the government
b
: a group of conspirators
a conspiracy made up of disgruntled aristocrats
see also conspiracy theory
Synonyms
- cabal
- crew
- gang
- Mafia
- mob
- ring
- syndicate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The CIA uncovered a conspiracy against the government. They were accused of conspiracy to commit murder.
Recent Examples on the Web Prosecutors charged Oath Keepers general counsel Kellye SoRelle with conspiracy, obstruction of a federal proceeding on Jan. 6, 2021, tampering with documents and misdemeanor trespassing. 
Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon has been charged with conspiracy and money laundering in New York. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2022 Among the charges was conspiracy to commit bribery, money laundering, wire fraud and tax evasion. Leon Stafford, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Holmes, 38, was found guilty in January of defrauding investors and conspiracy for her role in the Theranos’s collapse. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Simply repeating the film’s points makes one sound like some kind of conspiracy nut, and yet, the truth is outrageous — like the way Blackwater founder Erik Prince turned his attention to a new venture, Frontier Resources Group. Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 Isabella Pollok, 31, pleaded guilty to a single count of money laundering conspiracy in the Souther District of New York, court records show. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2022 Jones and Shearrill were each booked into jail on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and weapons, according to the department. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Jaynes is charged with deprivation of rights, conspiracy and falsification of records in an FBI investigation. Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon has been charged with conspiracy and money laundering in New York. Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2022 Among the charges was conspiracy to commit bribery, money laundering, wire fraud and tax evasion. Leon Stafford, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 Holmes, 38, was found guilty in January of defrauding investors and conspiracy for her role in the Theranos’s collapse. BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Simply repeating the film’s points makes one sound like some kind of conspiracy nut, and yet, the truth is outrageous — like the way Blackwater founder Erik Prince turned his attention to a new venture, Frontier Resources Group. Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 Isabella Pollok, 31, pleaded guilty to a single count of money laundering conspiracy in the Souther District of New York, court records show. Rebecca Rosenberg, Fox News, 8 Sep. 2022 Jones and Shearrill were each booked into jail on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and weapons, according to the department. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Jaynes is charged with deprivation of rights, conspiracy and falsification of records in an FBI investigation. Andrew Wolfson, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English conspiracie, from Latin conspirare — see conspire
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing conspiracy
Kids Definition
conspiracy
noun
con·spir·a·cy kən-ˈspir-ə-sē
plural conspiracies
1
: a secret agreement to do something harmful or unlawful
2
: the act of plotting with others to do something harmful or unlawful
3
: a group of conspirators
Legal Definition
conspiracy
noun
con·spir·a·cy kən-ˈspir-ə-sē
plural conspiracies
1
: an agreement between two or more people to commit an act prohibited by law or to commit a lawful act by means prohibited by law
also : the crime or tort of participating in a conspiracy compare substantive crime
Note: Some states require an overt act in addition to the agreement to constitute conspiracy.
— chain conspiracy
: a conspiracy in which the conspirators act separately and successively (as in distributing narcotics)
— civil conspiracy
: a conspiracy that is not prosecuted as a crime but that forms the grounds for a lawsuit
— criminal conspiracy
: a conspiracy prosecuted as a crime
2
: a group of conspirators
conspiracies
noun
1
as in gangs
a group involved in secret or criminal activities members of the conspiracy recognized each other by a secret handshake Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- gangs
- Mafias
- cabals
- networks
- syndicates
- clans
- rings
- mobs
- cliques
- crews
- covens
- circles
- crowds
- coteries
- bunches
- lots
- oligarchies
- juntas
- sets
- packs
- galères
2
as in complicities
a secret agreement or cooperation between two parties for an illegal or dishonest purpose a conspiracy among the leading manufacturers to fix prices Synonyms & Similar Words
- complicities
- collusions
- connivances
- intrigues
- schemes
- plots
- chicaneries
- duplicities
- setups
- skulduggeries
- frame-ups
- cover-ups
- skullduggeries
- conspirations
- foul play
- double-dealings
3
as in schemes
a secret plan for accomplishing evil or unlawful ends several generals were engaged in a conspiracy to overthrow the government Synonyms & Similar Words
- schemes
- plots
- intrigues
- machinations
- strategies
- subterfuges
- trickeries
- counterplots
- cabals
- manipulations
- designs
- maneuvers
- artifices
- collusions
- stratagems
- frame-ups
- counter-conspiracies
- contrivances
- counterconspiracies
- complicities
- cover-ups
- systems
- connivances
- programs
- confederacies
- rackets
- tricks
- drafts
- dodges
- gimmicks
- conspirations
- games
- ground plans
- rings