cabal

American  

[kuh-bal, kuh-bawl] / kəˈbæl, kəˈbɔl /

noun

1. a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority.

   Synonyms:

   ring, league, band, faction, junta

2. the plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue.

3. a clique, as in artistic, literary, or theatrical circles.

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verb (used without object)

caballed, caballing

1. to form a cabal; intrigue; conspire; plot.

cabal ¹ British  

/ kəˈbæl /

noun

1. a small group of intriguers, esp one formed for political purposes

2. a secret plot, esp a political one; conspiracy; intrigue

3. a secret or exclusive set of people; clique

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verb

1. to form a cabal; conspire; plot

Cabal ² British  

/ kəˈbæl /

noun

1. English history a group of ministers of Charles II that governed from 1667–73: consisting of Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale

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Related Words

See conspiracy.

Other Word Forms

• caballer noun

Etymology

Origin of cabal

First recorded in 1610–20, for an earlier sense; earlier cabbal, from Medieval Latin cabbala; kabbalah

Example Sentences

This is evidently what the investment cabal has done.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 16, 2026

It seemed reasonable to assume that once Patel realized that there was no cabal running the bureau, he would be able to calm everyone down.

From Slate • Dec. 16, 2025

Then he traces how a theocratic cabal, whose rule most observers thought would be short, found a way to consolidate power.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 3, 2025

Not just any action movie either — the sinister leader of the cabal Gi-hun sets himself against likens his vengeance quest to the central choice in “The Matrix.”

From Salon • Dec. 26, 2024

They would turn their backs on her, her mother, the policemen, her brother, and go off with Robbie Turner to indulge some adult cabal.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan