connivance
/kəˈnʌɪv(ə)ns
/noun [mass noun]
Willingness to allow or be secretly involved in an immoral or illegal act: this infringement of the law had taken place with the connivance of officials...
- Contractors in connivance with corrupt officials do shoddy work deliberately, so that they get a fresh contract soon for the job.
- Jewish law discerns three different levels of connivance with wrongdoing.
- Yet, it is necessary to outlive the inhuman experience of this attempt at genocide with the collaboration and connivance of the state and come to grips with its implications for the future of the Republic.
Synonyms
collusion, complicity, collaboration, involvement, assistance, abetting;
tacit consent;
conspiracy, plotting, scheming, intrigue, machination, secret understanding
rare abetment, condonation
Origin
Late 16th century (also in the Latin sense 'winking'): from French connivence or Latin conniventia, from connivere 'shut the eyes (to)' (see connive).