clique
noun
a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set.
cliques
-
pluralof clique.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
Several male chimps who had bridged cliques within the larger group died from disease, weakening social ties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
But she said the changing dynamic of the group, which reportedly includes several other celebrities, ended up reminding her of high school cliques and left her feeling "frozen out" at a vulnerable time.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2026
“Unlike high school cliques, in the political world, you didn’t have to be pretty, athletic, funny, or cool,” Stout recounted in her Substack.
From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2025
Kids would break off and cluster into their cliques and groups.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
