ENGLISH
REFERENCE

conspiracies

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kənˈspɪɹəsiz// UK //kənspˈɪɹəsɪz// con·spir·a·cies

n. secret plans made by a group of people to do something harmful or illegal. People often talk about these when they believe a powerful group is hiding the truth.

n. secret plans or agreements between two or more people to commit an illegal or harmful act. Often refers to the plural instances of such schemes or to the theoretical frameworks used to explain events as the result of secret plots.


SIMPLE

The police uncovered several conspiracies to steal the bank's data.

CONTEXTUAL

Historians have debunked many of the conspiracies surrounding the event, proving that most theories were based on false evidence.

COMPLEX

The investigation revealed a web of interlocking conspiracies designed to manipulate the market and suppress competition through a series of shell companies and offshore accounts.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural form of 'conspiracy'; often followed by the preposition 'to' and an infinitive verb.

Pitfall

conspiracies about the moon landingconspiracy theories about the moon landingLearners often use 'conspiracies' when they mean 'conspiracy theories' — a conspiracy is the actual secret plan, while a theory is the belief that a plan exists.

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