Conspiracy

A conspiracy is a secret plan by two or more persons to commit an illegal or harmful act, often for political, financial, or strategic goals. Conspiracies may be narrowly targeted or broad, and they can be real or alleged; the term is applied to both actual plots and the explanations that events occurred due to secret plots. The word derives from Latin conspirare, meaning to breathe together.

Conspiracy theories are explanations that attribute events or outcomes to the secret, often malevolent actions of powerful groups, typically without credible evidence. The term "conspiracy theory" has been used since the 19th century and is not synonymous with legitimate historical analysis; credible investigations rely on verifiable sources, documentation, and falsifiability. Conspiracy thinking is influenced by cognitive biases, ambiguity, and social factors, including distrust of authorities, in-group/out-group dynamics, and sensational media coverage.

Historically documented conspiracies include political plots and covert operations such as the Gunpowder Plot (1605) and Watergate (1972–1974). Some covert actions have been revealed through journalism, leaks, or court proceedings (for example, COINTELPRO disclosures). Many purported conspiracies remain unproven or are disproven, while others are substantiated only in part, underscoring the need for careful evaluation of evidence and sources. In scholarly contexts, researchers distinguish between actual conspiracies and conspiracy theories, study the conditions that enable them, and examine their effects on politics, law, and public discourse.