Britannica defines conspiracy theory as "an attempt to explain harmful or tragic events as the result of the actions of a small powerful group. Such explanations reject the accepted narrative surrounding those events; indeed, the official version may be seen as further proof of the conspiracy."
Reid, S. A. (n.d.). Conspiracy theory. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 21, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/conspiracy-theory