combination

combination, combine, party, bloc, faction, ring denote a union, either of individuals or of organized interests, for mutual support in obtaining common political or private ends.

Combination is the most comprehensive of these terms, being applicable to any such union whether a trust, an alliance, or simply an association for the purpose of urging demands or resisting claims

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a combination of citizens devoted to holding down taxes

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a combination of railroads to maintain existing rates

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Combine is often interchangeable, especially in informal use, with combination

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the coal combine

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Often it may connote a combination with an improper or illegal aim in view

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how the Mafia operates has been duplicated ... in Ed Reid's book of that infamous . . . combine— Kogan

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a combine that understands it must destroy . . . if it is actually to control— The Commonweal

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A party is a number of persons united in support of some opinion, cause, or principle; it usually implies a similar body in opposition, especially when used in reference to a political organization built up to continue the action and policies of government through election of its candidates to office

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in the United States there are usually only two strong parties

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the Labour party in England

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he who draws his pen for one party must expect to make enemies of the other— Dryden

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who, born for the universe, narrowed his mind, and to party gave up what was meant for mankind— Goldsmith

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Bloc implies a combination of persons or groups who otherwise differ in party or in interests for the sake of achieving a common and often temporary end; thus, in France and in Italy, a bloc is a combination of members of two or more political parties; in the United States, a bloc is a combination not of parties but of members of different parties who have a common end

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the farm bloc formed by members from the agricultural states wishing to secure legislation helpful to their constituents

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Faction frequently suggests a smaller body than party and commonly implies selfish ends and the use of unscrupulous or turbulent means

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so several factions from this first ferment work up to foam and threat the government— Dryden

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the Whigs and Tories in Rome, Athens, and Jerusalem never forgot national points with more zeal, to attend to private faction, than we have lately— Walpole

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Ring is applicable to an exclusive, often more or less secret, combination for a selfish and often corrupt or criminal purpose (as the control of a market, of political patronage, or of distribution of narcotics)

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the Tweed Ring was in control of New York City politics for six years

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innocent women were frequently framed by a ring consisting of police officers, stool pigeons, bondsmen and lawyers— Ploscowe

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Analogous words: *monopoly, corner, pool, cartel, syndicate, trust