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 had also demanded that Mexico's federal government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, do more to rein in cartels who hold sway in much of the state.

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His death stoked anger towards authorities accused of failing to support Manzo in the fight against the region's myriad cartels.

Read more on Barron's

But the recent assassination of a regional mayor who accused Mexico City of being soft on cartels has sparked large-scale anti-government demonstrations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But opposition leaders and other critics said the march reflected deep concern about alleged cartel infiltration in the government and charged that police brutalized young protesters.

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The US president spoke after Washington further upped the ante by announcing plans to designate as a terrorist group a cartel that it claims Maduro runs.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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