clique

[ kleek, klik ]
/ klik, klɪk /

noun

a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set.

verb (used without object), cliqued, cli·quing.

Informal. to form, or associate in, a clique.

Origin of clique

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

claque clique click clique

Example sentences from the Web for cliquey

  • People here are cliquey, and Carlotta and Peggy are the only girls in the crowd that I've ever known before.

    Brenda's Ward |Helen Leah Reed
  • I enjoyed the same sort of cliquey reputation and public failure attending a certain novel entitled Marius the Epicurean.

    The Sorrows of Satan |Marie Corelli
  • Godalming folks will tell you that Guildford is “cliquey,” by which term I understand exclusiveness to be meant.

British Dictionary definitions for cliquey (1 of 2)

cliquey

cliquy

/ (ˈkliːkɪ, ˈklɪkɪ) /

adjective -ier or -iest

exclusive, confined to a small group; forming cliques

British Dictionary definitions for cliquey (2 of 2)

clique
/ (kliːk, klɪk) /

noun

a small, exclusive group of friends or associates

Derived forms of clique

cliquish, adjective cliquishly, adverb cliquishness, noun

Word Origin for clique

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