coterie

American  

[koh-tuh-ree] / ˈkoʊ tə ri /

noun

1. a group of people who associate closely.

2. an exclusive group; clique.

3. a group of prairie dogs occupying a communal burrow.

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coterie British  

/ ˈkəʊtərɪ /

noun

1. a small exclusive group of friends or people with common interests; clique

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Related Words

See circle.

Etymology

Origin of coterie

First recorded in 1730–40; from French, Middle French: “an association of tenant farmers,” from Medieval Latin coter(ius) cotter ² + -ie -y ³

Example Sentences

After serving in World War II, he became a writer and editor at Commentary, entering a coterie that included such authors and critics as Hannah Arendt and Irving Howe.

From The Wall Street Journal

MetaX Integrated Circuits, the Chinese AI chipmaker and part of a coterie of fast-growing tech stocks known as the “Little Dragons,” enjoyed a wildly successful launch on the Shanghai exchange Wednesday.

From MarketWatch

This summer, SpaceX hit $400 billion in a private secondary share offering where many of Musk’s loyal coterie of friends and early investors participated.

From The Wall Street Journal

During Newby’s tenure as chief justice, a cartoon has hung in the Supreme Court depicting him as Superman, surrounded by a coterie of conservative appellate justices caricatured as other members of DC Comics’ Justice League.

From Salon

As in many such shows, there is a coterie of easily distinguishable friends at its center.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cadre