collusion

Meaning

Secret cooperation or a secret agreement between parties in order to deceive others or achieve an unlawful purpose.

Origin / Etymology

From Latin 'colludere', from 'com-' (together) and 'ludere' (to play).

Synonyms

connivance conspiracy complicity collaboration

Antonyms

competition transparency rivalry independence

Example Sentence

"Investigators uncovered collusion between the contractor and municipal officials to inflate the cost of the public works project."

🎯 UPSC Usage

Apply in GS Paper 3 (economy) for bid-rigging and cartelisation, and in GS Paper 4 (ethics) for corruption and conflict of interest. A strong word for essays on crony capitalism, procurement fraud, and the erosion of institutional integrity.

Relevant Subjects

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