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Definition of cahoots

cahoots

/kəˈhuːts/
ca · hoots
Plural:cahoots
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cahoots Lexical Profile

cahoots Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A secret, questionable, or illicit partnership or collusion between two or more people (used almost exclusively in the phrase 'in cahoots').

Example

"The investigators discovered that the corrupt official was in cahoots with the smuggling ring."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Almost exclusively used in the fixed prepositional phrase "in cahoots (with)" to imply secretive, illicit, or questionable cooperation.

• Rhymes for cahoots

• Nearby Words

cageyness
cagily
caginess
cahoots
caiman
caiman lizard
caimitillo

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in early 19th-century American English, the word is likely derived from French cahute, meaning a small cabin or hut, suggesting the idea of sharing close quarters.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cahoots. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cahoots
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