Collision vs. Collusion: What's the Difference?

While both collision and collusion may be heard in discussions around events or actions that involve multiple parties, these terms have distinct meanings. Collision is a noun used to describe an event where two or more objects come together with force, often resulting in damage or change. In contrast, collusion is also a noun but refers to a secret agreement or cooperation between parties for a deceitful or illegal purpose.

By signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
California residents, see our CA Privacy Notice.

Collision vs. Collusion

How do you use the word collision in a sentence?

The term collision is typically used when referring to accidents or physical impacts. It primarily describes scenarios where two or more parties strike each other unintentionally, often resulting in some form of damage or alteration to the objects involved. The word can be applied to various contexts, from vehicle accidents to sporting events.
Examples of collision in a sentence
  • The collision between the two cars at the intersection caused traffic to back up for miles.
  • During the soccer game, a collision between players resulted in a penalty kick.
  • Astronomers observed the collision of two distant galaxies through the telescope.

How do you use the word collusion in a sentence?

Use collusion when discussing secretive, often nefarious cooperation between individuals or entities. The term connotes a level of deceit and is frequently associated with illegal or unethical behavior. Collusion can occur in a variety of sectors, including business, politics, and sports, especially when discussing conspiracies or anti-competitive practices.
Examples of collusion in a sentence
  • The two companies were fined heavily after regulators uncovered evidence of price collusion.
  • The investigation revealed that there had been collusion between certain officials to rig the election.
  • Athletes from different teams faced penalties for collusion to fix the outcome of the game.

Collision and collusion definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation

Collision definition:
Collision refers to an instance of one object hitting another with force, often causing damage or a change in motion. It is commonly used to discuss car accidents or any other event where two bodies come into contact abruptly and with impact.

Collision parts of speech:
  • As a noun, collision captures the concept of an impact: The collision was so loud that it woke the entire neighborhood.

Collision pronunciation:
Collision is pronounced as /kəˈlɪʒən/, with the stress on the second syllable.

Collusion definition:
Collusion is the secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, especially in order to cheat or deceive others. It implies a deceitful agreement between entities to gain an unfair advantage.

Collusion parts of speech:
  • As a noun, collusion pertains to the act of conspiring: The jury found the defendants guilty of collusion to obstruct justice.

Collusion pronunciation:
Collusion is pronounced as /kəˈluːʒn/, with the emphasis on the second syllable, similar to collision but with a clear 'u' sound.

Collision vs. collusion in a nutshell

The key difference between the two lies in their contexts: collision is grounded in the physical realm, denoting an impact or crash, while collusion lives in the shadows of secrecy, pointing to dishonest agreements. Understanding the nuances between collision, a concrete event involving physical forces, and collusion, a subtle act of conspiracy, is crucial for appropriate usage. These two terms, though similar in pronunciation, diverge in meaning and application, illuminating distinct phenomena in their respective domains.

Get AI Writing Assistance Wherever You Type

Make sure your vocabulary is on point and every punctuation mark is in the right place, no matter where you’re working. Grammarly works across more than 500,000 websites and apps so you can improve your writing without copying, pasting, or breaking focused.

Icons for Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Sheets, Discord, Firefox, Salesforce, X, Reddit, Android, Ios

Great writing gets work done.

By signing up, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. California residents, see our CA Privacy Notice.