coconspirator

A coconspirator is a person who participates in a conspiracy, that is, an agreement between two or more persons to commit a wrongful or criminal act and to take steps to carry it out. A coconspirator is typically a participant who shares the intent and contributes to the planning or execution, rather than a passive bystander.

In legal usage, coconspirator and co-conspirator refer to members of a conspiracy; the term can apply to individuals who aid, promote, or authorize the plan, and who are liable for offenses committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. In many jurisdictions, each conspirator may be charged with crimes committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, even if the individual did not personally commit the criminal act.

Elements commonly associated with a conspiracy include an agreement between at least two people to commit a crime, an intent to achieve the unlawful objective, and an overt act by one or more conspirators in furtherance of the plan. Once a conspiracy is established, conspirators may face liability for offenses committed by others in the group, depending on local law and the scope of the conspiracy.

Etymology and usage notes: both "coconspirator" and "co-conspirator" are used, with variation by style guide and jurisdiction. The term is most common in criminal law, but may appear in journalism and scholarly writing when describing participants in coordinated wrongdoing. Related terms include accomplice, conspirator, and conspiracy.