Conspiracy
collective noun /kənˈspɪrəsi/ — What you call a group of lemurs — because they always look like they're plotting something.
Definition
The collective noun for a group of lemurs — ring-tailed lemurs in particular are highly social, communicative, and known for their mischievous, inquisitive behaviour.
Beyond the definition
Anyone who has watched lemurs knows the name is earned. They huddle, they whisper (vocally), they glance sideways. They have the energy of a group planning something. A conspiracy of lemurs is funny because it's true.
Origin & history
From Latin conspirare — to breathe together, to plot (con- 'together' + spirare 'to breathe'). The collective noun reflects the lemur's tendency to gather in tight, communicative groups that do look, uncannily, like they're scheming.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
A conspiracy of lemurs descended on the tourist's lunch bag with suspicious coordination.
The conspiracy watched from the trees, waiting for the humans to leave.
She found a conspiracy of lemurs arranged on the roof of the ranger station, sunbathing in unison.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Conspiracy” when the meaning fits your context: The collective noun for a group of lemurs — ring-tailed lemurs in particular are highly social, communicative, and known for their mischievous, inquisitive behaviour.
Synonyms
group, troop, band, mob
Related words
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
The researchers at the lemur sanctuary had been attempting, for three years, to separate a particular group of ring-tailed lemurs from each other during feeding time — to conduct individual health assessments in isolation.
Every method had failed. The lemurs had, it appeared, developed countermeasures.
"We stopped trying to outsmart them," the lead researcher told a conference. "We just named them a conspiracy and accepted the situation." The audience laughed. The researcher had not intended it as a joke.
Questions about this word
What does "Conspiracy" mean?
Conspiracy is collective noun meaning: What you call a group of lemurs — because they always look like they're plotting something.. The collective noun for a group of lemurs — ring-tailed lemurs in particular are highly social, communicative, and known for their mischievous, inquisitive behaviour.
Where does the word "Conspiracy" come from?
From Latin conspirare — to breathe together, to plot (con- 'together' + spirare 'to breathe'). The collective noun reflects the lemur's tendency to gather in tight, communicative groups that do look, uncannily, like they're scheming.