noun

conspiracy

kun-SPEER-uh-see/kənˈspɪrəsi/

A secret agreement to carry out harmful or unlawful acts.

Three adults discuss their conspiracy to steal a jewel.

Three adults of varied appearances secretly plan a theft around a table, pointing to a simple picture of a display case containing a jewel; a closed door and concealed empty sack establish wrongful secrecy.

Etymology

conspiracyLatinagreement, union, unanimity

Latin conspiratio meant agreement or union and came from a verb literally meaning “to breathe together.” The English sense specializes that agreement as people secretly uniting to do wrong.

In context

LawShelf0:56

for example plan a joint robbery of a store they can be held liable for conspiracy even if they do not complete the robbery

Criminal Law: The Crime of Conspiracy

More examples

Police uncover a conspiracy to burn down the warehouse.
She refuses to join the conspiracy against her boss.
The prosecutor charges both men with conspiracy to commit fraud.

Forms

conspiracy · conspiracies

conspire verb — To agree secretly to commit wrongdoing.

conspirator noun — Someone who participates in a secret, harmful plot.

Similar words

plot: Emphasizes the secret plan rather than the agreement among participants.
collusion: Emphasizes secret cooperation to deceive others or gain unfair advantage.
scheme: Can describe one person's plan and need not involve wrongdoing.