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complicity — the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing

Pronunciation (IPA): /kəmˈplɪsəti/

Example Sentences

  • The CEO's complicity in the embezzlement scandal shocked investors.
  • My cat's complicity in destroying the Christmas tree was evident from the tinsel in her whiskers.
  • The teacher suspected complicity among the students who all gave identical wrong answers.

complicity

NOUN

[/kəmˈplɪsəti/]

the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing

Two clerks share a guilty glance as they hide a missing ledger, their complicity obvious.
💡 Concept

Two clerks share a guilty glance as they hide a missing ledger, their complicity obvious.

Come, plicits, we stick together in crime!
🧠 Mnemonic

Come, plicits, we stick together in crime!

Hiding complicity and duplicity behind words of simplicity.
🎵 Rhyme

Hiding complicity and duplicity behind words of simplicity.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kəmˈplɪsəti/
🇬🇧 UK/kəmˈplɪsəti/

🌳Etymology

Rootcomplic-
Suffix--ity

Origin

From Latin 'complicitas', derived from 'complicare' meaning 'to fold together' or 'to twist together', combined with the suffix '-ity' to form a noun indicating a state or condition.

Breakdown

com- (together) + plic (fold/twist, from Latin plicare) + -ity (state/condition) = complicity

🎵Rhyme

duplicity
simplicity
publicity

🔗Collocations

complicity in crime
deny complicity
prove complicity
silent complicity
complicity with terrorists

📝Examples

“The CEO's complicity in the embezzlement scandal shocked investors.”

😄 Fun example

“My cat's complicity in destroying the Christmas tree was evident from the tinsel in her whiskers.”

“The teacher suspected complicity among the students who all gave identical wrong answers.”

😄 Fun example

“His nervous laughter revealed his complicity in eating the last slice of pizza.”

📚Related Words

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