conspiracy theory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Informal, Academic, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “conspiracy theory” mean?
A belief that a secret, powerful group is responsible for a particular event or situation, often without credible evidence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A belief that a secret, powerful group is responsible for a particular event or situation, often without credible evidence.
Any explanation for an event or circumstance that invokes a secret plot by powerful, often malevolent, forces, especially when alternative, more evidence-based explanations exist. The term can also refer to the genre or culture surrounding such beliefs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. The collocation 'conspiracy theorist' is equally common.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American media discourse, but commonly used in both.
Grammar
How to Use “conspiracy theory” in a Sentence
conspiracy theory that + clauseconspiracy theory about + noun phraseconspiracy theory regarding + noun phraseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conspiracy theory” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tends to conspiracy-theorise about any major news event.
- The video was quickly conspiracy-theorised online.
American English
- She conspiracy-theorized that the outage was intentional.
- The post was immediately conspiracy-theorized in the forums.
adverb
British English
- He argued conspiracy-theory-ly, ignoring all evidence.
American English
- She explained it conspiracy-theory-ishly, weaving in unrelated events.
adjective
British English
- He has a very conspiracy-theory mindset.
- The forum was full of conspiracy-theory content.
American English
- It was a conspiracy-theory rabbit hole.
- She went down a conspiracy-theory path after watching the documentary.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in PR/risk management contexts, e.g., 'The company moved to quash conspiracy theories about the product recall.'
Academic
Used in sociology, political science, and media studies as a technical term to analyse belief systems and misinformation.
Everyday
Common in discussions of news, politics, and online content, often dismissively.
Technical
Used in psychology (e.g., 'conspiracist ideation') and disinformation research.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conspiracy theory”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conspiracy theory”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conspiracy theory”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'criticism' or 'scepticism'. Incorrect: 'His conspiracy theory about the budget was proven right.' (If proven, it's not a *theory* in this sense).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In mainstream use, yes, it implies a lack of credible evidence. However, proponents of such ideas may use it neutrally or positively to describe their alternative viewpoint.
A 'conspiracy' is an actual secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful. A 'conspiracy theory' is a belief or narrative that such a conspiracy exists, often before it is proven or when evidence is lacking.
Yes, particularly in social sciences, media studies, and history. It is used as a technical term to categorise and analyse a type of belief system, often without the pejorative intent of everyday usage.
Not a standard verb. Informally, you might hear 'to conspiracy-theorise' (UK) / 'to conspiracy-theorize' (US), but it's non-standard. More formal alternatives are 'to speculate' or 'to posit a conspiracy theory about'.
A belief that a secret, powerful group is responsible for a particular event or situation, often without credible evidence.
Conspiracy theory: in British English it is pronounced /kənˌspɪr.ə.si ˈθɪə.ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˌspɪr.ə.si ˈθɪr.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a conspiracy theory for every occasion”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONSPIRACY = secret plan, THEORY = unproven idea. A 'conspiracy theory' is an unproven idea about a secret plan.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS LIGHT / IGNORANCE IS DARKNESS (conspiracy theories thrive in 'shadowy' areas where 'official' light does not reach).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is the most natural and common collocation with 'conspiracy theory'?