cadre

[ ka-drey, kah-drey ]

noun

1. Military. the key group of officers and enlisted personnel necessary to establish and train a new military unit.
2. a group of trained or otherwise qualified personnel capable of forming, training, or leading an expanded organization, as a religious or political faction, or a skilled workforce:

   They hoped to form a cadre of veteran party members.

3. (especially in Communist countries) a cell of trained and devoted workers.
4. a member of a cadre; a person qualified to serve in a cadre.
5. a framework, outline, or scheme.

cadre

/ ˈkɑːdə /

noun

1. the nucleus of trained professional servicemen forming the basis for the training of new units or other military expansion
2. a basic unit or structure, esp of specialists or experts; nucleus; core
3. a group of revolutionaries or other political activists, esp when taking part in military or terrorist activities
4. a member of a cadre

cadre

1. An elite or select group that forms the core of an organization and is capable of training new members.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadre¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from French: “frame, border, bounds, cadre” (metaphorically, the cadre being the framework into which temporary personnel are fit), from Italian quadro, from Latin quadrum “square”; quadri-

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadre¹

C19: from French, from Italian quadro, from Latin quadrum square

Example Sentences

In the U.S. view a small group—or cadre—of fierce red ants have taken power and are opposing the black-ant majority.

From The Daily Beast

He can possibly wield control from inside through a cadre of loyal lieutenants in the field.

From The Daily Beast

So do New York City Mayor DeBlasio, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and a growing cadre of politicians across the country.

From The Daily Beast

In my home village too a low-ranking cadre named Xu Xianqing literally stuffed himself to death.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the Haqqanis will be scrambling to ensure the safety of their leadership cadre.

From The Daily Beast

Still, if it were not for Vesuvius much of the charm and character of the Bay of Naples and its cadre would be gone for ever.

From Project Gutenberg

In the same way the cadre of divisional and sessions judges had in 1909 to be raised from 12 to 16.

From Project Gutenberg

On April 1, 1913, only forty-six of the 1319 civilians on the cadre were natives of India.

From Project Gutenberg

The cadre is not only the frame, joint, or articulation, but the system of veins and arteries and nerves of an army.

From Project Gutenberg

Put on disponsibility Hors Cadre on his demand the 1st of November, 1897.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• organization
• personnel
• staff