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.
Some faculty worried Greek life would fuel a party culture and cliques.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
Within this large group, cliques were formed but they often intermingled and share territory, like something from a simian Pixar film.
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
Most didn’t stay in one place for long but instead formed temporary cliques based on the games they played.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 27, 2026
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.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
But he had proven himself as a superb academic administrator, earning his spurs honing consensus among the fractious faculty cliques on the MIT campus.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
