complicity

noun

com·​plic·​i·​ty kəm-ˈpli-s(ə-)tē How to pronounce complicity (audio)
plural complicities
Synonyms of complicity
1
: association or participation in or as if in a wrongful act
There's no proof of his complicity in the crime.
2
: an instance of complicity
The two share a complicity she calls fraternal.—Joan Dupont

Synonyms of complicity

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Examples of complicity in a Sentence

There's no proof of her complicity in the murder. He acted with his brother's complicity.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Curiously, the same thing happened to Altobelli, and the two of us ended up breaking into a clamorous chorus of laughter, confirming our complicity, especially when laughing at one of our idols. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026 Missing evidence and recanted testimonies suggest that powerful men might have interfered with the investigation to hide their own complicity in the murder. — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 In contrast to the gorgeous monochrome visuals, this is a land that stinks of complicity and delusion — of opportunists desperate to scramble onto the right side of history. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Zelenskyy’s challenge of defending Ukraine against Putin and adjusting to Trump’s complicity in Putin’s deadly assaults reminds us of that adage about history not repeating itself but rhyming. — Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complicity

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French complicité, borrowed from New Latin complicitāt-, complicitās, formed from Late Latin complic-, complex "fellow-participant, partner, accomplice" and Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity, probably after Late Latin duplicitās duplicity — more at complice

Note: The formation of the word is peculiar in that Latin -itāt-, -itās, along with its descendants and borrowings, is rarely added to nouns. Outside of the dictionaries of Thomas Blount and Elisha Coles, complicity is rare to non-existent in English text before the later eighteenth century, when its adoption was probably stimulated by French complicité.

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complicity was circa 1656

Rhymes for complicity

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Browse Nearby Words

complicitous
complicity
complier
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Cite this Entry

“Complicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complicity. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

complicity

noun
com·​plic·​i·​ty kəm-ˈplis-ət-ē How to pronounce complicity (audio)
plural complicities
: association or participation in a wrongful act
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