cartel

[kahr-tel]

noun

1. an international syndicate, combine, or trust formed especially to regulate prices and output in some field of business.

   Synonyms: combination, merger, monopoly

2. a coalition of political or special-interest groups having a common cause, as to encourage the passage of a certain law.

3. a written agreement between belligerents, especially for the exchange of prisoners.

4. a written challenge to a duel.

cartel

/ kɑːˈtɛl /

noun

1. Also called: trust. a collusive international association of independent enterprises formed to monopolize production and distribution of a product or service, control prices, etc

2. politics an alliance of parties or interests to further common aims

cartel

1. An association in which producers of a similar or identical product try to obtain a monopoly over the sale of the product.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a cartel.

Other Word Forms

• cartelism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartel¹

1550–60; < Middle French < Italian cartello letter of defiance, poster, equivalent to cart ( a ) carte + -ello diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartel¹

C20: from German Kartell, from French, from Italian cartello a written challenge, public notice, diminutive of carta _card ¹

Example Sentences

He said in January he would press Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cartel to cut prices.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The move builds on earlier decisions by the Vienna-based cartel to unwind a layer of production quota curbs totaling roughly 1.65 million barrels a day, which was first implemented in 2023.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

He pressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to let U.S. armed forces take a leading role in battling Mexican cartels, warning his administration would act unilaterally if Mexico didn’t.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Oil prices were rising Monday after the OPEC+ cartel said it would hike its crude output by less than some market participants had expected.

Read more on Barron's

This Thursday, a leaked memo sent to Congress – reported by US media – said the US government had now decided it was in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• conglomerate 
• consortium 
• corporation 
• gang 
• holding company 
• mob 
• monopoly 
• ring 
• syndicate