coterie

[koh-tuh-ree]

noun

1. a group of people who associate closely.

2. an exclusive group; clique.

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

coterie

/ ˈkəʊtərɪ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of coterie¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of coterie¹

C18: from French, from Old French: association of tenants, from cotier (unattested) cottager, from Medieval Latin cotārius _cotter ²; see _cot ²

Synonym Study

See circle.

Example Sentences

Frustrated by her coterie of assistants glued to their cellphones, Rachel gazes at him with the glowy admiration he can’t get from his own girls.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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.

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But so does the episode’s device of using sculpture-like representations of Cleopatra and her coterie, their facial expressions reflecting whatever historical achievement, or calamity, is being recalled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The most obvious addition to attendees this year was a coterie of lobbyists touring the venue trying to understand how they might work with a Reform-led government.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cadre