A secret plan by a group to do something harmful or illegal.
From Latin *conspirare*, meaning "to breathe together" (*con-* "together" + *spirare* "to breathe"). It originally could mean people agreeing or acting in harmony, before taking on a darker meaning of secret plotting.
A conspiracy is literally people "breathing together"—huddled close, whispering plans. Conspiracy theories are powerful because they turn random events into a single hidden story with villains and masterminds.
Accusations of ‘conspiracy’ have sometimes been used to discredit women’s organizing, from suffrage movements to contemporary feminism, framing collective action as secretive or illegitimate. At the same time, conspiracy theories have often relied on misogynistic tropes about powerful or manipulative women.
Use ‘conspiracy’ precisely for secret unlawful agreements, and avoid gendered stereotypes about who conspires. Distinguish evidence-based claims from conspiracy theories.
["secret agreement (if accurate)","coordination","collusion (legal/policy contexts)"]
Women organizers have frequently been surveilled and accused of conspiracies simply for advocating equal rights or labor protections.
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