inner circle

American  

noun

1. a small, intimate, and often influential group of people.

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Etymology

Origin of inner circle

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Late last year, the CIA cultivated a source within Maduro’s inner circle who provided information on his whereabouts, The Wall Street Journal previously reported.

From The Wall Street Journal

And that there are now around 20,000 agents in what he called the "inner circle".

From BBC

It was the catalyst that linked Will to its powerful creatures that tormented him and his inner circle for years.

From Los Angeles Times

At what became Drexel Burnham, Gary was part of the Milken inner circle, working on leveraged buyouts and trading convertible securities.

From The Wall Street Journal

If Atkins is successful in widening access to private companies, it won’t mean that small-time investors will be invited into the inner circle.

From The Wall Street Journal