complicity
C1Formal, literary, legal, journalistic
Definition
Meaning
The state of being involved with others in an unlawful or morally wrong activity; partnership in wrongdoing.
Can also imply tacit or passive involvement or support that allows wrongdoing to continue, or a close, sometimes secretive association in a complex situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Nearly always carries a negative or critical connotation of shared guilt or blame. It focuses on the relationship of involvement, not the act itself. Often used with 'in' (complicity in).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage patterns are identical.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations of shared guilt or blame.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American legal and political discourse, but the term is common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
complicity in + NP (crime, fraud, genocide)complicity with + NP (regime, corrupt officials)complicity between + NP and NP (government and corporations)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a web of complicity”
- “a chain of complicity”
- “silence equals complicity”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contexts of corporate fraud, corruption, or unethical practices (e.g., 'The auditor was investigated for complicity in the accounting scandal.').
Academic
Common in political science, history, sociology, and legal studies discussing systemic injustice, genocide, or corruption (e.g., 'The paper examines the public's complicity in the authoritarian regime.').
Everyday
Less common, but used in serious discussions about moral responsibility (e.g., 'By not speaking up, you risk complicity in the bullying.').
Technical
A precise legal term denoting partnership in a criminal offense.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The law does not complicitise bystanders.
- He was accused of complicitising in the cover-up.
American English
- The statute does not complicitize passive observers.
- She was charged with complicitizing in the fraud.
adverb
British English
- He acted complicitly by hiding the evidence.
- The officials nodded complicitly.
American English
- She nodded complicitly, aware of the deception.
- They worked complicitly to evade regulations.
adjective
British English
- He was found to be complicit in the scheme.
- The minister's complicit silence was criticised.
American English
- She was deemed complicit in the plot.
- The company's complicit behavior led to fines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police suspect his complicity in the theft.
- She denied any complicity with the criminals.
- The report detailed the government's complicity in the human rights abuses.
- There was clear evidence of complicity between the bank and the fraudsters.
- The historian argued that the populace's silent complicity allowed the regime to consolidate power.
- Legal complicity requires proof of knowledge and some form of assistance in the unlawful act.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'COMPLICity' – it makes you COMPLICated in a bad situation, an accomplice to the crime.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLICITY IS A TIE/BOND (an invisible thread linking partners in crime), COMPLICITY IS A STAIN (something that morally soils all involved).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'сложность' (complexity) – a common false friend. The correct conceptual equivalents are 'соучастие' (in crime) or 'причастность' (involvement, often negative).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for neutral or positive collaboration (e.g., 'Our complicity on the project was great.' – INCORRECT). Confusing it with 'complication'. Using the wrong preposition (e.g., 'complicity for' instead of 'complicity in').
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'complicity' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. It inherently carries a negative connotation of shared guilt or blame in wrongdoing. For positive collaboration, use 'cooperation', 'collaboration', or 'partnership'.
They are close synonyms. 'Complicity' is broader, covering any involvement in wrongdoing. 'Collusion' specifically implies a secret or illegal agreement, often to deceive or cheat others. All collusion is complicity, but not all complicity is a formal collusion.
No. While common in legal contexts, it's also used for serious moral or ethical wrongs, such as complicity in oppression, bullying, or environmental destruction, where no law may have been broken.
The direct adjective is 'complicit'. Example: 'He was complicit in the crime.' The related verb is 'to be complicit' or, less commonly, 'to complicit'.
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