A conspirator is someone who secretly works with others to plan something wrong or illegal. When people become conspirators, they join together in a conspiracy, meeting in private to plot actions they want to hide from others.

History is full of conspirators: people who plotted to overthrow governments, assassinate leaders, or commit major crimes. Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators tried to blow up England's Parliament in 1605. Benedict Arnold conspired with the British during the American Revolution to betray West Point.

Not every secret plan makes someone a conspirator, though. Planning a surprise birthday party isn't a conspiracy because you're not doing anything wrong or illegal. The word specifically implies plotting something harmful or against the rules. When several students scheme together to steal test answers, they become conspirators in an academic conspiracy. When business owners secretly agree to fix prices instead of competing fairly, they're conspirators breaking the law.

Conspirators depend on secrecy and trust among themselves, but they live with the constant fear that one person might reveal their plans or that someone might discover what they're doing.