noun
cartel
kah-TEHL
noun
1
A group of businesses or organisations that secretly cooperate to control prices or limit competition.
"The oil cartel agreed to cut production to raise prices."
"Regulators broke up the drug cartel after a years-long investigation."
How to Use Cartel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group that colludes to control a market or industry, legally (in business) or illegally (as with drug cartels).
Common pairings
drug cartel
oil cartel
break up a cartel
Word Forms
cartels plural
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The oil _____ agreed to cut production to raise prices.
Etymology
Borrowed from German Kartell in the 19th century, itself from French cartel, ultimately from Italian cartello ("placard"), from Latin charta.