cause célèbre

American  

[kawz suh-leb-ruh, -leb, kohz sey-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

Etymology

Origin of cause célèbre

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cause célèbre

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

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

A party that was irrelevant four years ago was becoming a cause célèbre.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

A much younger and far less experienced performer has been cast in the part that made her a cause célèbre.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Through it all she remained a cause célèbre and the Scottish press still loved a Big Mags story.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2025

The condemnation of Honorius has become a cause célèbre, especially in connection with the doctrine of papal infallibility.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Joseph Cullen Ayer