conspiracy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conspiracy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful. Example: "The investigation revealed a conspiracy to manipulate the stock market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The defendant committed himself to al-Qaida's conspiracy to kill Americans, and he worked to drive other people to that conspiracy".

The Guardian

The jury returned a verdict on three charges: conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiring to provide support to al-Qaida and providing support to al-Qaida.

The Guardian

Another witness was a British man who was supposed to join Richard Reid in a shoe-bomb attack in December 2001 but who quit the conspiracy during a trip home after his parents warned him that he better not be a terrorist.

The Guardian

Montgomery, who pleaded guilty in 2012, faces life in prison on a hate crime charge and five years on conspiracy.

The Guardian

Shelbie Brooke Richards, who pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy and concealing the crime by lying to police, faces eight years in prison at sentencing on 16 April.

The Guardian

"I fear he will say: 'Now, my brother is not a man.'" It is for this reason that both perpetrator and victim enter a conspiracy of silence and why male survivors often find, once their story is discovered, that they lose the support and comfort of those around them.

The Guardian

When Newman penned his latest piece for The Australian on how climate change science is a conspiracy, he claimed the United Nations was "opposed to capitalism and freedom" and how climate action was a campaign for "authoritarians".

The Guardian

Some studies have suggested a link between a person's tendency to reject established science and accept conspiracy theories (known as 'conspiratorial ideation') while endorsing "free market" policies.

The Guardian

To my horror, I realised that I was inadvertently hearing the truth about a vast conspiracy that had dogged me throughout my childhood.

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: 'I start to feel it in my knees' – working for hours while standing proves a tall order The conspiracy theorists among you are probably thinking this is just a thinly disguised attempt by the standing desk lobby.

The Guardian - Opinion

The torrent technology wasn't easy to master, a good ratio was difficult to maintain, the forum moderators were Nazis, and uploading even a single byte of data to the site technically constituted a felony-level conspiracy.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conspiracy" when you want to emphasize a secret agreement between multiple parties to achieve a goal, often with negative connotations.

Common error

Avoid using "conspiracy" loosely for any disagreement or secret; it implies a coordinated effort, often illegal or harmful.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "conspiracy" is as a noun. It typically refers to a secret plan or agreement between people to do something illegal or harmful. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "conspiracy" functions primarily as a noun, denoting a secret agreement to perform an unlawful or harmful act. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness is not in question, and it enjoys widespread usage, particularly within news and media outlets. While it maintains a neutral register when reporting on legal proceedings, the term readily adopts negative connotations when deployed in political and social discourse. When you want to highlight a secret agreement between multiple parties to achieve a goal, often with negative connotations, the word "conspiracy" is appropriate. To avoid sounding sensationalistic, be sure to confirm coordinated effort before alleging a "conspiracy".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secret plot

Replaces "conspiracy" with more direct synonyms emphasizing secrecy and planning.

covert scheme

Focuses on the hidden and strategic nature of the plan, similar to "conspiracy".

secret agreement

Highlights the agreement aspect of a conspiracy, implying a shared understanding.

underhand machination

Emphasizes the deceitful and manipulative qualities of the secret plan.

clandestine collusion

Focuses on secret cooperation for illegal or deceitful purposes.

shadowy intrigue

Highlights the mysterious and secretive nature of the planning, similar to "conspiracy".

secret cabal

Suggests a small, secret group involved in a conspiracy.

nefarious plot

Emphasizes the wickedness or immorality of the conspiracy.

fraudulent scheme

Highlights the deceitful nature of the plan, focusing on fraud.

illegal agreement

Focuses on the unlawful nature of the agreement, suggesting a violation of laws.

FAQs

How to use "conspiracy" in a sentence?

You can use "conspiracy" to describe a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful. For example, "The investigation revealed a "conspiracy" to manipulate the stock market".

What can I say instead of "conspiracy"?

You can use alternatives like "plot", "scheme", or "collusion" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "conspiracy" or "theory"?

"Conspiracy" refers to the act of conspiring, while "theory" is an idea or belief about something. You can have a "conspiracy theory", which is a belief that a conspiracy has taken place.

What's the difference between "conspiracy" and "collusion"?

"Collusion" often implies secret cooperation, especially in business or politics, to deceive others. "Conspiracy" is a broader term that encompasses any secret agreement to do something unlawful or harmful.