connivance

or con·niv·ence

[kuh-nahy-vuh ns]

noun

the act of conniving.

Law.

tacit encouragement or assent (without participation) to wrongdoing by another.
the consent by a person to a spouse's conduct, especially adultery, that is later made the basis of a divorce proceeding or other complaint.

Origin of connivance

1590–1600; earlier connivence (< F) < Latin connīventia. See connive, -ence, -ance

Related formsnon·con·niv·ance, nounnon·con·niv·ence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for connivence

connivance

noun

the act or fact of conniving

law the tacit encouragement of or assent to another's wrongdoing, esp (formerly) of the petitioner in a divorce suit to the respondent's adultery

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for connivence

1590s, from Latin conniventia, from conniventem (nominative connivens), present participle of connivere (see connive). Spelling with -a- prevailed after early 18c., but is not etymological.

connivance

the main modern form of connivence (q.v.).