cartel
UK: kɑːˈtel | US: kɑːrˈtel
n. 1. A group of independent businesses or organizations that collaborate to control prices or limit competition (e.g., a drug cartel).
n. 2. A written agreement between warring nations, especially regarding prisoner exchange.
cartel = cart<paper> + el<noun suffix>
- cart (from Latin charta, meaning "paper" or "document")
- el (diminutive or noun-forming suffix, often from French -el or Latin -ellus)
Etymology Origin:
The word cartel originated in the 16th century from the Italian cartello, meaning "a written challenge" or "public notice," derived from Latin charta (paper). Its meaning evolved to describe formal agreements, first in diplomacy (e.g., prisoner exchanges) and later in economics (e.g., price-fixing alliances). The shift reflects the transition from literal "documents" to the abstract "pacts" they represent.
The oil cartel manipulated global fuel prices for decades.
The two nations signed a cartel to repatriate prisoners of war.
Authorities dismantled a drug cartel operating across borders.
The cartel’s monopoly stifled competition in the industry.
Historical cartels often used written agreements to formalize terms.