connivance

 
Pronunciation: /kəˈnʌɪv(ə)ns/

noun

[mass noun]
  • willingness to allow or be secretly involved in an immoral or illegal act: this infringement of the law had taken place with the connivance of officials

Origin:

late 16th century (also in the Latin sense 'winking'): from French connivence or Latin conniventia, from connivere 'shut the eyes (to)' (see connive)