Collude: meaning, definitions and examples

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collude

[kəˈluːd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

in a negative way

To collude means to conspire or cooperate in a deceitful or illegal way, often for a dishonest or harmful purpose. It involves secret cooperation or conspiracy, especially for fraudulent or deceptive activities.

Synonyms

connive, conspire, plot, scheme.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collude	Used when two or more parties secretly work together to deceive or cheat someone. They were found guilty of collusion to fix prices. The companies colluded to avoid competition.
conspire	Often refers to plotting together to perform an illegal or harmful action. They conspired to overthrow the government. The employees were conspiring to steal company secrets.
plot	Used when planning something dangerous or illegal, typically in secret. Also used in literature to refer to the sequence of events in a story. The group plotted to rob the bank. The novel's plot was full of twists.
scheme	Refers to making secret or underhanded plans, often with a focus on personal gain. She was always scheming to get more money. The politician was involved in a scheme to defraud voters.
connive	Implies secret cooperation or sympathy with wrongful actions, often by ignoring or pretending not to see them. She connived at her friend's deceitful plan. The teacher was accused of conniving with the students to cheat on the exam.

Examples of usage

They were accused of colluding with the competitors to fix prices.
The companies colluded to manipulate the market for their own benefit.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

in a political context

In a political context, collude means to cooperate with an enemy or opposing group against one's own country or allies. It is often seen as an act of treason or betrayal.

Synonyms

betray, conspire, plot, sell out.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
collude	Typically used when individuals or groups work together secretly for harmful or illegal purposes. The term often implies a negative connotation and a level of deceit. The companies were found to have colluded to fix prices. Politicians were accused of colluding with foreign agents.
betray	Used when someone is disloyal to a person, group, or principle. It often implies breaking trust and causing harm or disappointment. She felt betrayed by her best friend. He was accused of betraying his country.
conspire	Indicates a secret plan made by two or more people to do something unlawful or harmful. Like 'collude', it carries a negative connotation. The thieves conspired to rob the bank. They conspired against the new manager to get him fired.
plot	Refers to a secret plan to achieve an illegal or harmful end. It is often used in the context of dramatic actions such as rebellion, coups, or assassination. They plotted to overthrow the government. The villains were plotting the hero's downfall.
sell out	This phrase is used when someone compromises their personal integrity, principles, or loyalty, often for personal gain such as money or power. It carries a strong negative connotation. He sold out his colleagues to avoid imprisonment. Many fans felt that the band sold out after signing a mainstream record deal.

Examples of usage

The politician was found to have colluded with a foreign government to influence the election.
The officials were accused of colluding with the enemy to undermine national security.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'colludere', meaning 'to play together' or 'to collude', which originally had a neutral meaning.
In the 16th century, it shifted to signify secretive or illegal plotting, especially in political and business contexts.

Law and Ethics

In legal terms, collusion is often seen in cases of conspiracy where two or more parties secretly agree to deceive or cheat others.
Antitrust laws combat collusion among businesses to maintain fair competition, preventing unfair price fixing.

Pop Culture

Movies often depict collusion among characters, such as in films that focus on heists or political conspiracies.
Popular TV shows often have plot twists that reveal main characters colluding, adding suspense and drama.

Psychology

Psychological studies show that people are more likely to engage in collusion if they believe their actions are justified.
Social dynamics within groups can create environments where collusion is normalized or overlooked.

History

Collusion has been a critical factor in many historical events, including political scandals and corporate fraud in the 20th century.
The Watergate scandal exemplified how collusion can unravel governments, leading to significant political consequences.

Translations

Translations of the word "collude" in other languages:

🇵🇹 conspirar

🇮🇳 गुप्त रूप से मिलकर काम करना

🇩🇪 konspirieren

🇮🇩 bersekongkol

🇺🇦 змовлятися

🇵🇱 konspirować

🇯🇵 共謀する

🇫🇷 conspirer

🇪🇸 conspirar

🇹🇷 komplo kurmak

🇰🇷 공모하다

🇸🇦 تآمر

🇨🇿 konspirovat

🇸🇰 konspirovať

🇨🇳 密谋

🇸🇮 spletkariti

🇮🇸 samsæri

🇰🇿 қастандық жасау

🇬🇪 შეთქმა

🇦🇿 qəsd etmək

🇲🇽 conspirar

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,645 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
32642 ruination
32643 rewinding
32644 defeatism
32645 collude
32646 objectify
32647 hessian
32648 bottler
...