conspiracycon‧spi‧ra‧cy /kənˈspɪrəsi/ ●○○ noun (plural conspiracies) [countable, uncountable] 
He was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.conspiracy against a conspiracy against the government There were many conspiracy theories (=beliefs that something is the result of a conspiracy) surrounding Princess Diana’s death.► see thesaurus at plan2conspiracy of silence an agreement not to talk about something, even though it should not be a secret: There’s often a conspiracy of silence surrounding bullying in schools.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesan international/worldwide/global conspiracy· Hitler believed there was a worldwide conspiracy to enslave Germany.a criminal conspiracy· His crimes were illegal possession of arms and criminal conspiracy.a political conspiracy· Were the killings part of a political conspiracy?an alleged conspiracy (=that people say exists but that is not yet proved to exist)· The charges against him relate to an alleged conspiracy.verbsbe part of a conspiracy (also take part in a conspiracy)· The jury found that Poindexter was part of a conspiracy to ship arms to Iran.be involved in a conspiracy· Apparently the commander of the army had also been involved in the conspiracy.be charged with conspiracy (=be formally accused of it)· The women were charged with conspiracy to supply heroin.be convicted of conspiracy (=be found guilty of it in a court)· He was convicted of conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts.conspiracy + NOUNa conspiracy theory (=a belief by a number of people that something is the result of a conspiracy)· President Kennedy’s assassination inspired a lot of conspiracy theories.a conspiracy theorist (=someone who believes in a particular conspiracy)· Conspiracy theorists believe that Princess Diana’s death was not an accident.a conspiracy charge/charge of conspiracy· Three men have been convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Reynolds was charged with conspiracy against the government.
- There was a conspiracy to defraud the company of millions of dollars.
- Being something of a conspiracy buff, I believe this deal has been in the offing for quite some time.
- But how this complaint lines up with the alleged conspiracy and fraudulent conduct is not clear to me.
- He was entranced by his own thoughts, and dazzled by the elegant simplicity of his conspiracy theories.
- In this way, the strategy proceeds from the same antisemitic assumptions and stereotypes as the more familiar and anti-Zionist conspiracy theories.
- The charges included racketeering, conspiracy, bank fraud, securities fraud, misapplication of funds and interstate transportation of stolen property.
- The convictions included murder, conspiracy to murder, racketeering and conspiracy to distribute drugs in prison.
THESAURUS
a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detail: · Leaders outlined a plan to end the fighting.
a secret plan to do something bad or illegal, made by a group of people: · There was a plot to assassinate the president.· a terrorist conspiracy
British English an official plan that is intended to help people: · The government has introduced a new scheme to help young people find work.
a carefully designed plan which is intended to achieve a particular purpose over a long period of time: · the company’s business strategy· The government’s economic strategy has been criticized by many experts.· We need to develop effective strategies for combating the sale of counterfeit goods.
a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular aim: · a peace initiative· a major new initiative to tackle street crime
a plan that members of a government, political party, company etc agree on, that states how they intend to deal with a particular subject or problem: · the government’s immigration policy· It’s company policy to allow people to work from home.
British English, program American English a series of activities that a government or organization organizes, which aims to achieve something important and will continue for a long time: · a five-year programme which will create 2,000 new jobs· federal programs for low-income housing
Longman Language Activatora plan to do something bad a secret plan to do something bad, especially to the members of a government: · The plot was quickly discovered, and five men were arrested.plot to do something: · a plot to assassinate the Presidentplot against: · Janis was suspected of masterminding a plot against US airlines in East Asia.
a secret and usually complicated plan made by two or more people to do something bad or illegal together: conspiracy to do something: · There was a conspiracy to defraud the company of millions of dollars.conspiracy against: · Reynolds was charged with conspiracy against the government.
a plan to do something bad or illegal, especially one that you consider to be stupid or unlikely to be successful: · He's always coming up with these dumb schemes for making money that just land us in trouble.
secret planning and arrangements, agreed in order to gain advantages and power for yourself: · The world of politics is a world of deception and intrigue.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives He faces charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud (=a secret plan to cheat someone, made by two or more people).
· Hitler believed there was a worldwide conspiracy to enslave Germany.
· His crimes were illegal possession of arms and criminal conspiracy.
· Were the killings part of a political conspiracy?
(=that people say exists but that is not yet proved to exist)· The charges against him relate to an alleged conspiracy.
verbs (also take part in a conspiracy)· The jury found that Poindexter was part of a conspiracy to ship arms to Iran.
· Apparently the commander of the army had also been involved in the conspiracy.
(=be formally accused of it)· The women were charged with conspiracy to supply heroin.
(=be found guilty of it in a court)· He was convicted of conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts.
conspiracy + NOUN (=a belief by a number of people that something is the result of a conspiracy)· President Kennedy’s assassination inspired a lot of conspiracy theories.
(=someone who believes in a particular conspiracy)· Conspiracy theorists believe that Princess Diana’s death was not an accident.
· Three men have been convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He faces charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud (=a secret plan to cheat someone, made by two or more people). (=a theory that an event was the result of secret plan made by two or more people)· A variety of conspiracy theories question the official account of President Kennedy’s assassination.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· In the end the sentence-for criminal conspiracy, corruption and bribery-was a compromise.· Labor began as a criminal conspiracy.· The little rituals of a nineteenth-century criminal conspiracy.
· Last month Duriez and Tibbles was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson.· Pate pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges in September and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.· He was found guilty of conspiracy to murder but not guilty of attempted murder.· Found guilty of seditious conspiracy and possession of illegal weapons, they are serving prison terms ranging from 35 to 105 years.· Another Leeds player, defender Michael Duberry, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.· Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy Jan. 28 and is awaiting sentencing.· The three defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to possess drugs. 9 February was set for sentencing.
· Two of the accused nurses told the court they were forced to confess to an international conspiracy under torture.
NOUN· Wain's father Robert, 48, of Southend on Sea, was cleared of handling and conspiracy charges.· Yahweh and six followers had been convicted in May of federal conspiracy charges.· Pate pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges in September and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.· Superior Court Judge William Pounders dismissed the conspiracy charge and declared a mistrial in the case of the other 12 counts.· McVeigh, 27, and Nichols, 40, could face the death penalty if convicted on federal murder and conspiracy charges.· He also faces two other conspiracy charges with Annette Tibbles from Northampton.
· But two or three unusual features of last week's cut fired the imagination of New York's conspiracy theorists.· But conspiracy theorists have argued over the years that Oswald was an agent manipulated by Moscow.· A particular theorist may argue with the interpretations of other conspiracy theorists, because by no means all theorists agree with one another.· Like our late twentieth-century conspiracy theorists, Dooner starts with a few facts, disguising his fiction as straight social history.· The conspiracy theorists might have a point.
· Swanson knows his conspiracy theories, and his portrait of Dallas, mainly rancid, saves you the trip.· These people have enough conspiracy theories on their plates.· This more sophisticated and rationally expressed conspiracy theory of anti-semitism was combined with gutter racist anti-semitic abuse in its publications.· The militia is really a direct-mail marketing operation for conspiracy theory videos and a busy interchange on the information superhighway.· The air is thick with conspiracy theories whenever the regime feels threatened.· If the gay gene is in the mitochondria, then a conspiracy theory springs to the devious minds of Hurst and Haig.· Alex, however, subscribes to the standard conspiracy theory that the authorities undermine anyone investigating these sensitive areas.· Those blacks dedicated to conspiracy theories see white devils behind the murders of both Shakur and Wallace.
VERB· A man and a woman were charged on April 15 with conspiracy to cause explosions and with possession of explosives and arms.· Another 40 people are facing charges of riot and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.· They are jointly charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and possessing Semtex and six assault rifles on or before April 13.· Lord and Murray also denied conspiracy to cause violent disorder.
· Seven men, all from Bristol, admitted conspiracy to commit arson.· He said he questioned whether there was enough evidence to convict his client on conspiracy to commit murder.· Last month Duriez and Tibbles was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson.· Richard Duriez from oxford is charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage following that raid.· All three were charged with conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to commit forgery, and false accounting.· The youngsters have been charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage with intent to endanger life.
· He was also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct justice and interfering with witnesses.· He said he questioned whether there was enough evidence to convict his client on conspiracy to commit murder.· Mr Gray was convicted last year of conspiracy to supply heroin and ecstasy.· Three have been convicted on fraud or conspiracy charges, including the McDougals and former Arkansas Gov.· If convicted of conspiracy, Odeh and Wadih El-Hage, 40, could get life terms.· Nichols could be sentenced to death if convicted of murder, conspiracy and weapons counts.
· They were charged with conspiracy to defraud the race course.· The same test applies now throughout the Theft Acts and in conspiracy to defraud.· Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Castle Grande was part of a conspiracy to defraud Madison.· Maxwell, 36, a former Mirror Group executive, was also in court this month, charged with conspiracy to defraud.· Derek Hatton, Liverpool council's former deputy leader, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the city's ratepayers.· He still faces charges of theft and conspiracy to defraud.· Maxwell brothers charged with conspiracy to defraud Kevin and Ian Maxwell have appeared in court charged with conspiracy to defraud.
· They faced charges of conspiracy, murder, and contravention of the Aviation Security Act of 1982.· All face conspiracy, explosives and weapons charges.· He also faces two other conspiracy charges with Annette Tibbles from Northampton.· Ku, 49, of San Jose, was told he faced charges of conspiracy and firearms smuggling and dealing.· Hernandez, as the chief spy, is facing a murder conspiracy charge for their deaths.· The brothers also face a conspiracy charge.· They face theft and conspiracy charges.
· Last month Duriez and Tibbles was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson.· He was found guilty of conspiracy to murder but not guilty of attempted murder.· The three defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to possess drugs. 9 February was set for sentencing.
· He was found guilty of conspiracy to murder but not guilty of attempted murder.· The convictions included murder, conspiracy to murder, racketeering and conspiracy to distribute drugs in prison.· McCrory, Green and Doherty denied a similar conspiracy to murder Norris.· He was acquitted on a count of conspiracy to murder.· Brothers Mustafa and Mahmoud Mougrabi received one year and six years respectively for conspiracy to murder.· A possible answer emerged last week when Rizvi was arrested at his plush Bombay home and charged with conspiracy to murder.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegalconspiracy to do something- There has been a conspiracy of silence about violations of regulations.
- Curiously enough the Dunrossness District Plan avoids mentioning these negative aspects, so was there a conspiracy of silence here?
- Should you be acting as the peacemaker in your family, or the one who breaks the conspiracy of silence?
- Sometimes children need to break the conspiracy of silence.
- The conspiracy of silence about teenage sexuality had many results.
- The overall effect is precisely the same as if there were an organised conspiracy of silence among churchmen.
- The whole thing sometimes appears such an enigma that there might almost have been a conspiracy of silence.
- Then, there is the conspiracy of silence which is part of the legacy of Northern Ireland.
- There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening, says Christina Hardyment That's entertainment.
He was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.conspiracy against a conspiracy against the government There were many conspiracy theories (=beliefs that something is the result of a conspiracy) surrounding Princess Diana’s death.► see thesaurus at plan2conspiracy of silence an agreement not to talk about something, even though it should not be a secret: There’s often a conspiracy of silence surrounding bullying in schools.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesan international/worldwide/global conspiracy· Hitler believed there was a worldwide conspiracy to enslave Germany.a criminal conspiracy· His crimes were illegal possession of arms and criminal conspiracy.a political conspiracy· Were the killings part of a political conspiracy?an alleged conspiracy (=that people say exists but that is not yet proved to exist)· The charges against him relate to an alleged conspiracy.verbsbe part of a conspiracy (also take part in a conspiracy)· The jury found that Poindexter was part of a conspiracy to ship arms to Iran.be involved in a conspiracy· Apparently the commander of the army had also been involved in the conspiracy.be charged with conspiracy (=be formally accused of it)· The women were charged with conspiracy to supply heroin.be convicted of conspiracy (=be found guilty of it in a court)· He was convicted of conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts.conspiracy + NOUNa conspiracy theory (=a belief by a number of people that something is the result of a conspiracy)· President Kennedy’s assassination inspired a lot of conspiracy theories.a conspiracy theorist (=someone who believes in a particular conspiracy)· Conspiracy theorists believe that Princess Diana’s death was not an accident.a conspiracy charge/charge of conspiracy· Three men have been convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges.