cause célèbre

American  

[kawz suh-leb-ruh, -leb, kohz say-leb-r^uh] / ˈkɔz səˈlɛb rə, -ˈlɛb, koʊz seɪˈlɛb rə /

noun

• causes célèbres
  plural

1. any controversy that attracts great public attention, as a celebrated legal case or trial.

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cause célèbre British  

/ koz selɛbrə, ˈkɔːz səˈlɛbrə, -ˈlɛb /

noun

1. a famous lawsuit, trial, or controversy

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cause célèbre Cultural  

1. A cause or issue, generally political, that arouses public opinion: “The question of the draft was a cause célèbre in the 1960s.” From French, meaning “celebrated cause.”

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• causes célèbres
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cause célèbre

First recorded in 1755–65; from French: literally, “famous case”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cause célèbre

His case became a cause célèbre among fans and online content creators.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

While Sally’s children turn Champ’s legal troubles into a cause célèbre on social media, Sally and Corinne strategize about how to clear the terrier’s name.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

State Department warned Brown that Chessman’s execution might inflame protesters during an upcoming trip President Eisenhower planned in Uruguay, where the prisoner was a cause célèbre.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2024

Lucio’s case has become a cause célèbre among people, including Kim Kardashian.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 2024

Here that cause célèbre, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, dragged “its slow length along” through the weary years, involving “Bills, cross-bills, answers, rejoinders, injunctions, affidavits, issues, references to masters, masters’ reports—mountains of costly nonsense.”

From Rambles in Dickens' Land by Robert Allbut

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