conspiracy
noun [ C or U ]
uk/kənˈspɪrəsi/ usplural conspiraciesa secret agreement made between two or more people or groups to do something bad or illegal that will harm someone else:
conspiracy against sb It is my client's opinion that there has been a conspiracy against him.
conspiracy between sb (and sb) The group of optometrists denied there was any conspiracy between them and other industry associations to stop the sale of lenses to mail order houses.
conspiracy to do sth The four directors have denied conspiracy to defraud pensioners by misusing shares that belonged to pension funds.
A group of former housing counsellors has been indicted on fraud and conspiracy charges in one of the biggest real estate fraud cases ever seen in the state.