Word
collusion
Phoneticscol·lu·sion, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈɫuʒən/
UK/kəlˈuːʒən/
Definitions
01secret illegal cooperation
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a secret plan between people or companies to do something dishonest or illegal.
n. a secret agreement or cooperation for a fraudulent or illegal purpose; conspiracy.
“The two companies were accused of collusion to keep prices high for customers.”
“The investigation uncovered evidence of collusion between the regulators and the very companies they were supposed to be monitoring.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'with'.
Teaching tip
Learners should note that collusion always implies a level of secrecy and dishonesty; it is never used for positive cooperation.
Synonyms
02fake competition
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Academic
n. when groups that should be competing secretly work together to gain an unfair advantage.
n. a private arrangement between groups that maintain a public appearance of competition or non-cooperation.
“The two political parties were in collusion to prevent a third candidate from winning.”
“Economists warned that the lack of price variation suggested collusion among the major airlines rather than a healthy competitive market.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept; countable when referring to specific instances.
Teaching tip
This sense is common in business and political journalism to describe 'rigged' systems.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Following the UAE's decision, Iran's armed forces warned neighbouring Gulf countries against providing support to the US military, saying any assistance given to US forces would be considered collusion.” “This did not entirely bury the question of collusion between teams nor the fact that those playing later had a competitive advantage in knowing what result they needed to progress.” Etymology
Dated from the 14th century C.E. as Middle English collusioun, collusion; from Old French collusion, from Latin collusio (“act of colluding”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/collusion