Collusion

Noun

Definition: Secret agreement or cooperation between two or more parties, usually for deceitful or illegal purposes.

Synonyms: Conspiracy, Connivance, Collaboration

Antonyms: Honesty, Transparency

Examples:

The executives were accused of collusion to fix prices.
The investigation uncovered a collusion between politicians and organized crime.

Mnemonics:

"Collusion" contains the word "illusion" which can remind you of deceit or hidden intentions.
Think of two secretive individuals whispering and planning together.

Etymology:

Origin:

This word originated from the Latin word "collusio," which means "a conspiracy." It entered the English language in the late 14th century.

Historical Usage:

"Collusion" has been used in legal and political contexts throughout history to describe secret agreements and illicit collaborations.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"In collusion with"

Explanation:

This phrase means someone is working secretly with another person or group to achieve a deceitful or illegal objective.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "collusion" with "collaboration."

Explanation:

While "collusion" and "collaboration" both involve a group of people working together, "collusion" specifically refers to a secret agreement with deceitful intentions, while "collaboration" is a more general term for working together towards a common goal.