CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE Definition & Meaning

conspiracy of silence

noun

a usually secret or unstated agreement to remain silent among those who know something whose disclosure might be damaging, harmful, or against their own best interest or that of their associates.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of conspiracy of silence¹

First recorded in 1860–65

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Idioms and Phrases

A tacit or explicit agreement to keep something secret. For example, In this state's medical society there is a conspiracy of silence regarding incompetent practitioners . This term was first used as a complaint about lack of attention, but today it more often refers to remaining silent about something unfavorable or criminal. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Before the July general election, the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank accused both main parties of a "conspiracy of silence" over public finances.

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In July, the month before Kennedy dropped out and endorsed former President Trump, she wrote a disparaging article about the “conspiracy of silence” to protect Trump’s then-rival, President Biden.

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He added that there was a "conspiracy of silence between the Tories and Labour Party on austerity cuts".

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But both Labour and the government have also been criticised for a "conspiracy of silence" about how tightly they might squeeze spending if they win the election.

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An influential think tank, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, points to what it calls a "conspiracy of silence" about the tough decisions required after the election.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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