clique

[ klik, kleek ]
See synonyms for clique on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set.

verb (used without object),cliqued, cli·quing.
  1. Informal. to form, or associate in, a clique.

Origin of clique

1
1705–15; <French, apparently metaphorical use of Middle French clique latch, or noun derivative of cliquer to make noise, resound, imitative word parallel to click1

synonym study For clique

1. See circle, ring1.

Other words from clique

  • clique·less, adjective
  • cli·quey, cli·quy, adjective
  • cli·quism, noun
  • sub·clique, noun

Words that may be confused with clique

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use clique in a sentence

  • Efforts will be made no doubt to use the new voter for the purposes of cliques and fanatics.

    The Hills and the Vale | Richard Jefferies
  • He faced the situation bravely, and closed his ears to the unworthy squabbles of ambitious cliques.

    Byron | Richard Edgcumbe
  • All rightI saidBut perhaps the great oracle of the cliques will reject your proposals with scorn.

    The Sorrows of Satan | Marie Corelli
  • It has been partly created and wholly fanned into flame by the governing cliques for political reasons.

  • In their selfish greed the governing cliques of all the little states absolutely disregarded the will of the people of Macedonia.

British Dictionary definitions for clique

clique

/ (kliːk, klɪk) /


noun
  1. a small, exclusive group of friends or associates

Origin of clique

1
C18: from French, perhaps from Old French: latch, from cliquer to click; suggestive of the necessity to exclude nonmembers

Derived forms of clique

  • cliquish, adjective
  • cliquishly, adverb
  • cliquishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012