collude

[ kuh-lood ]

verb (used without object)

, col·lud·ed, col·lud·ing.

1. to act together through a secret understanding, especially with evil or harmful intent.
2. to conspire in a fraud.

collude

/ kəˈluːd /

verb

1. intr to conspire together, esp in planning a fraud; connive

Derived Forms

• colˈluder, noun

Other Words From

• col·lud·er noun
• pre·col·lude verb (used without object) precolluded precolluding

Word History and Origins

Origin of collude¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin collūdere “to play together,” equivalent to col- col- ¹ + lūdere “to play”

Word History and Origins

Origin of collude¹

C16: from Latin collūdere, literally: to play together, hence, conspire together, from com- together + lūdere to play

Example Sentences

Whether nor not a company is too big isn’t the issue, but whether or not that bigness enables it to set the rules of competition, collude, and quash competitors.

From Fortune

As they proliferate, experts say, we need to make sure they don’t collude against us in damaging ways.

From Singularity Hub 

She was arrested at the time, and released on bail, for covering a rally on behalf of political prisoners at the presidential office and charged with “colluding against national security” and “disturbing public order.”

From Fortune

Police this morning arrested the paper’s founder, Jimmy Lai, on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces—a crime under the new national security law punishable by up to life in prison.

From Quartz

Some people argue that the Democrats and Republicans are essentially a duopoly that colludes, really, to perpetuate their power at the expense of the average voter.

From Freakonomics

Collusive labor makes it easier for employers to collude to extract maximum rents from customers.

From The Daily Beast

And what if the family and community collude in this inversion?

From The Daily Beast

Nor, Cortazzo said, did he collude with the geologist to rip off Roy.

From The Daily Beast

I argued that when markets are free, and when government does not collude with business, greed is useful.

From The Daily Beast

Associated words: collude, collusion, collusive, connivance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• connive