noun 2.Law.a.tacit encouragement or assent (without participation) to wrongdoing by another.
b.the consent by a person to a spouse's conduct, especially adultery, that is later made the basis of a divorce proceeding or other complaint.
Also, con·niv·ence.
Origin: 1590–1600; earlier
connivence (< F) <
Latin connīventia. See
connive,
-ence,
-ance Related forms non·con·niv·ance, noun
non·con·niv·ence, noun