What does collusively mean?
Collusively is an adverb meaning in a way that involves secret cooperation for a dishonest or improper purpose. It is especially used when two or more people, companies, or organizations are alleged to have coordinated their actions to deceive others, manipulate a process, or obtain an unfair advantage. For example, authorities may say that bidders acted collusively by suppressing competition or fixing prices. The word is formal and strongly negative, and it appears frequently in legal, business, political, and competition-related writing. Because “collusive” can describe conduct, arrangements, or agreements, “collusively” usually modifies an action or the manner in which something was done. In general use, the term suggests coordinated misconduct that is intended to remain hidden, although it does not by itself identify a specific legal offense.
adverbIn a collusive or conspiratorial manner, especially by secretly acting together to deceive or gain an unfair advantage.
- In a collusive or conspiratorial manner, secretly acting together to deceive, manipulate, or gain an unfair advantage.
"The bidders allegedly acted collusively to suppress competition and inflate the final price."
"The companies continued bidding collusively despite an agreement to compete independently."
"Critics alleged that the officials had acted collusively to protect one another."
When you see “collusively,” someone may be working together in a way they hope you will not notice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does collusively come from?
“Collusively” is formed from the adjective “collusive” with the adverbial suffix -ly. “Collusive” comes through Latin “collusivus,” associated with “colludere,” meaning to play together or act in concert and, by extension, to conspire or deceive. The same Latin root is reflected in English words such as “collude” and “collusion,” as well as in words connected with the root “ludere,” meaning to play.
How collusively is actually used
A formal and relatively uncommon word, especially common in legal, business, political, and competition-related contexts. It carries a strongly negative connotation, implying secret cooperation intended to deceive or gain an advantage.
Easily confused with collusively
Collusive is the adjective describing conduct involving collusion, while collusively is the adverb describing how such conduct occurs.