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Meaning & use

colluding

verb·Academicdisapproving

Last updated

UK/kəˈluːdɪŋ/
US/kəˈluːdɪŋ/

“colluding” is a form of “collude”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meaning

  1. verbintransitiveformal

    Secretly working together with another person or group, usually to cheat, deceive or break the law.

    Grammar: No object; usually followed by with or in: colluding with a rival, colluding in fraud.

    Patterns

    • collude with someone
    • collude with someone to do something
    • collude in something

    The two firms were accused of colluding to keep prices high.

    Investigators believe the guard was colluding with the thieves.

    She denied colluding with anyone to change the exam results.

Word forms

base formcollude
third person singularcolludes
past tensecolluded
-ing formcolluding

Common combinations

colluding with the enemy
He was arrested for colluding with the enemy during the war.
accused of colluding
Three managers were accused of colluding on bids.
colluding to fix prices
The suppliers were colluding to fix prices.
colluding in fraud
The auditor was suspected of colluding in the fraud.
secretly colluding
The two officials were secretly colluding behind their boss's back.

Synonyms and how they differ

conspire
Conspire stresses planning a crime or harmful act together, whereas collude stresses the secret cooperation itself.
plot
Plot is more informal and dramatic, and often suggests a single scheme against someone.
connive
Connive often means secretly allowing wrongdoing to happen, rather than actively joining in as colluding does.
cooperate
Cooperate is neutral and positive, while colluding always implies something dishonest.

Opposites

compete

Word family

collusion noun
secret agreement for a dishonest purpose
collusive adjective
involving secret, dishonest cooperation
colluder noun
a person who colludes
collude verb
to work together secretly to cheat

Commonly confused: colluding or colliding?

colluding vs colliding

Colliding means crashing into something; colluding means secretly cooperating, and the two only look alike.

Practice

The regulator suspected that the airlines were ___ with each other to set fares.

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