clique

[kleek, klik]

noun

1. a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set.

verb (used without object)

cliqued, cliquing 

1. Informal.,  to form, or associate in, a clique.

clique

/ klɪk, kliːk /

noun

1. a small, exclusive group of friends or associates

Other Word Forms

• cliqueless adjective
• cliquey adjective
• cliquy adjective
• cliquism noun
• subclique noun
• cliquishness noun
• cliquish adjective
• cliquishly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of clique¹

1705–15; < French, apparently metaphorical use of Middle French clique latch, or noun derivative of cliquer to make noise, resound, imitative word parallel to click ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of clique¹

C18: from French, perhaps from Old French: latch, from cliquer to click; suggestive of the necessity to exclude nonmembers

Synonym Study

See circle, ring ¹.

Example Sentences

The only member of the clique of hyperscalers to authorize new buybacks this year has been Alphabet, which said back in April that it would purchase up to $70 billion.

Read more on MarketWatch

"Frequently withdrawing from agreements and reneging on commitments, while enthusiastically forming blocs and cliques, has subjected multilateralism to unprecedented challenges," Wang said, without naming specific countries.

Read more on Barron's

To make a music scene you need four things: cheap housing, recent art-school graduates, a stage where anyone can play and a small clique of young critics eager to discover a new subculture.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The operation was aimed at "benefitting a power clique", a Hungarian EU official told Direkt36.

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Former captain Steven Gerrard's recent observation that they were simply "egotistical losers" also plays into the club cliques argument that has come to the fore since many retired as players.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cabal 
• clan 
• coterie 
• faction 
• gang 
• mob 
• posse