What does coconspirator mean?
A coconspirator is a person who takes part jointly with others in a conspiracy — a secret plan to commit an unlawful, harmful, or deceptive act. The word is used chiefly in legal and journalistic writing, where defendants are frequently described as having acted 'in concert with' named or unnamed coconspirators, and it carries a strongly negative connotation of complicity in wrongdoing. It differs subtly from the simpler word 'conspirator' by foregrounding the joint nature of the activity: a coconspirator is explicitly someone's partner in the scheme. Beyond its legal core, the term is often applied figuratively and even affectionately, so that a friend who helps plan a surprise party may be called a coconspirator in the endeavor. An alternative hyphenated spelling, co-conspirator, appears regularly in both British and American English. The word derives from Latin roots meaning literally 'to breathe together,' a fitting image for people plotting as one.
nounA person who conspires jointly with one or more others to commit an unlawful, harmful, or secret act; a partner in a conspiracy.
- A person who joins with one or more others in a conspiracy, especially a criminal or legal conspiracy.
- More loosely, a partner or collaborator in any secret or underhanded undertaking.
"The prosecutor charged the financier as a coconspirator in the scheme to defraud investors."
"Investigators identified three coconspirators who helped smuggle the artifacts out of the country."
"She joked that her best friend was her coconspirator in every childhood prank."
Regular plural formed by adding -s; the hyphenated variant co-conspirators is equally standard.
"The trial ultimately implicated six coconspirators across three countries."
In American courtrooms, being named a 'coconspirator' can actually work in your favor — prosecutors often list unindicted coconspirators who never face charges at all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coconspirator
Coconspirator combines the prefix 'co-', from Latin 'cum' meaning 'together with', with 'conspirator', which comes from the Latin verb 'conspirare' — literally 'to breathe together', later 'to agree or plot in unison'. The underlying noun gave rise to 'conspiracy' and entered English via Old French in the medieval period. The compound form emphasizes joint participation in the plot, distinguishing it from the plain form 'conspirator'.
How coconspirator is actually used
The word is most at home in legal, journalistic, and political contexts, where it carries a serious connotation of criminal joint action. In casual speech it is sometimes used playfully or affectionately for partners in harmless schemes. The spelling 'co-conspirator', with a hyphen, is also common and fully acceptable, particularly in formal writing.
Easily confused with coconspirator
A conspirator is anyone involved in a conspiracy, while a coconspirator specifically emphasizes that the person acts jointly with another identified conspirator.