conspiracy of silence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, academic
Quick answer
What does “conspiracy of silence” mean?
An agreement, either explicit or implicit, between multiple parties to keep quiet about a controversial, embarrassing, or illegal matter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An agreement, either explicit or implicit, between multiple parties to keep quiet about a controversial, embarrassing, or illegal matter.
A social phenomenon where individuals collectively avoid discussing a known but uncomfortable truth, often due to fear, shame, or a desire to protect institutions or reputations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally understood and employed in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations of cowardice, complicity, and institutional failure in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British journalism and historical commentary, but common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “conspiracy of silence” in a Sentence
[Institution/Group] maintained a conspiracy of silence about [topic].There was a conspiracy of silence surrounding [event].They broke the conspiracy of silence by speaking out.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conspiracy of silence” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The board was accused of conspiring to silence whistleblowers.
- They seemed to conspire in their silence about the missing funds.
American English
- The administration conspired to keep the report quiet for months.
- Witnesses were alleged to have conspired in their silence.
adverb
British English
- They acted conspiratorially, avoiding all mention of the incident.
- He nodded conspiratorially, indicating the topic was off-limits.
American English
- The staff exchanged looks conspiratorially whenever the manager's name came up.
- She whispered conspiratorially about the company's real problems.
adjective
British English
- The conspiratorial silence in the village was finally broken by the local paper.
- He gave a conspiratorial glance, urging me to stay quiet.
American English
- There was a conspiratorial hush in the office after the layoffs were announced.
- Her conspiratorial tone suggested we should not discuss it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used regarding corporate scandals, harassment cases, or financial irregularities that management and staff avoid discussing.
Academic
Used in sociology, history, and political science to analyse societal responses to trauma, corruption, or abuse.
Everyday
Used in discussions of family secrets, local scandals, or workplace issues everyone knows but doesn't mention.
Technical
Not typically a technical term, but may appear in legal contexts related to obstruction of justice or collusion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conspiracy of silence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conspiracy of silence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conspiracy of silence”
- Using it for an individual's choice to stay quiet (requires multiple parties).
- Confusing it with a simple 'secret'. A conspiracy of silence is about not discussing a known or suspected fact.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is often an implicit, unspoken understanding arising from shared fear, shame, or a desire to protect a group's interests.
Extremely rarely. It is almost exclusively negative, implying moral failure. A positive spin might be 'discretion', not a conspiracy of silence.
A cover-up implies active steps to hide or destroy evidence. A conspiracy of silence is more passive—simply not talking about something that is known or suspected.
Not by itself. However, in contexts like obstructing justice, perverting the course of law, or professional misconduct, participating in one can be illegal or a disciplinary offence.
An agreement, either explicit or implicit, between multiple parties to keep quiet about a controversial, embarrassing, or illegal matter.
Conspiracy of silence: in British English it is pronounced /kənˌspɪr.ə.si əv ˈsaɪ.ləns/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˌspɪr.ə.si əv ˈsaɪ.ləns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The elephant in the room (related, but refers to the obvious issue itself, not the agreement not to discuss it).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a group of people at a party, all seeing a giant cake smashed on the floor. They look at each other, put a finger to their lips, and silently agree to pretend it's not there. That's a 'conspiracy' (secret plan) 'of silence' (not talking).
Conceptual Metaphor
SILENCE IS A BOND/AGREEMENT; TRUTH IS A BURDEN; SOCIAL HARMONY IS PRESERVED THROUGH SUPPRESSION.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'conspiracy of silence' LEAST appropriate?