noun

collusion

kuh-LOO-zhun/kəˈluːʒn/

Secret cooperation for a dishonest or illegal purpose.

The officials’ concealed exchange suggests collusion.

Two mixed-ethnicity officials exchange a concealed envelope beneath a desk, shared secretive intent while applicant waits beyond doorway.

Etymology

colLatintogether

+lusLatinto play

+ionLatinact or process

The image of “playing together” underlies joint action; in collusion, that cooperation is secret and directed toward fraud or another dishonest purpose.

In context

Libertarianism.org97:20

whether the uh agreements say to fix prices not to use the word collusion again okay the agreement an agreement to fix prices is per se illegal

Revising Traditional Notions of Competition and Monopoly - The Turney Collection

More examples

The agreement raised suspicions of collusion.
Secret collusion kept the prices artificially high.
The inquiry examined possible collusion between the officials.

Forms

collusion

collude verb — cooperate secretly for an improper purpose

Similar words

cooperation: Cooperation can be open and beneficial; collusion is secret and serves a dishonest purpose.
conspiracy: A conspiracy is an agreement to commit wrongdoing; collusion particularly emphasizes improper cooperation.