collude
Americanverb (used without object)
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to act together through a secret understanding, especially with evil or harmful intent.
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to conspire in a fraud.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of collude
First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin collūdere “to play together,” equivalent to col- col- 1 + lūdere “to play”
Explanation
When you collude with someone you secretly plot together to do something bad. You might collude with your twin sister to find out where all the birthday presents are hidden. The word collude entered English in the 16th century from the Latin word colludere, meaning “have a secret agreement,” a combination of col-, meaning “together,” and ludere, meaning “to play.” When you collude with someone, it's like you’re playing together on the same team for the purpose of getting something you want, typically something illegal or harmful. Companies may collude to keep prices high, or politicians may collude to keep damaging information secret.
Vocabulary lists containing collude
Fast Food Nation
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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"Efrén Divided" by Ernesto Cisneros, Chapters 6–11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"You have insurance charges, floor charges, and various other levies that make production unsustainable," he told AFP, repeating allegations that contractors collude to keep prices low and "shortchange" producers.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Herzog cites professional wrestling as an example of a spectacle in which the audience members and performers collude in a narrative that is patently false, yet has all the elements of legitimate competition.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025
This week, Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers discuss the lawsuit against RealPage, a software company the DOJ says helps landlords collude to keep rents too damn high.
From Slate • Aug. 31, 2024
Keeping Mr Dos Santos away from Ms Williams, who was standing a short distance away, meant they could not "collude" and it "sanitised the situation and keeps it truthful", according to PC Clapham.
From BBC • Oct. 5, 2023
Public competitive bidding is not corruption-proof: many times officials and bidders collude and conspire to award the contract against bribes and other, non-cash, benefits.
From After the Rain : how the West lost the East by Vaknin, Samuel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
