Cartel

Noun

 * 1) A group of businesses or nations that collude to limit competition within an industry or market.
 * 2) A combination of political groups (notably parties) for common action
 * 3) A written letter of defiance or challenge.
 * 4) An official agreement concerning the exchange of prisoners.
 * 5)  A ship used to negotiate with an enemy in time of war, and to exchange prisoners.

Related terms

 * cartelize
 * cartelization

Synonyms for Cartel
monopoly, trust, pool, syndicate, combination.

Thesaurus
Aktiengesellschaft, Anschluss, NATO, SEATO, accord, addition, affiliation, agglomeration, aggregation, agreement, aktiebolag, alliance, amalgamation, arrangement, assimilation, association, bargain, binding agreement, blend, blending, blow, body corporate, bond, business, business establishment, cabal, capitulation, centralization, chain, challenge, chamber of commerce, coalescence, coalition, collective agreement, combination, combine, combo, commercial enterprise, compact, compagnie, company, composition, concern, concord, concordat, confederacy, confederation, congeries, conglomerate, conglomerate corporation, conglomeration, conjugation, conjunction, consolidating company, consolidation, consortium, conspiracy, contract, convention, copartnership, corporate body, corporation, covenant, covenant of salt, dare, deal, defi, defy, dicker, diversified corporation, ecumenism, embodiment, employment contract, encompassment, enosis, entente, entente cordiale, enterprise, federalization, federation, firm, formal agreement, fusion, gage, gauntlet, glove, group, holding company, hookup, house, inclusion, incorporation, industry, integration, international agreement, ironclad agreement, joint-stock association, joint-stock company, junction, junta, league, legal agreement, legal contract, marriage, meld, melding, merger, multinational, mutual agreement, mutual-defense treaty, nonaggression pact, operating company, package, package deal, pact, paction, partnership, plunderbund, pool, promise, protocol, public utility, slap, solidification, stipulation, stock company, stump, syncretism, syndicate, syndication, syneresis, synthesis, tie-up, trade association, transaction, treaty, trust, understanding, unification, union, union contract, utility, valid contract, wage contract, wedding

Etymology
From cartel:, from  cartello:, diminutive of carta: 'card, page'.