claque

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noun \ˈklak\

Definition of claque

1 : a group hired to applaud at a performance
2 : a group of sycophants

claque was our Word of the Day on 01/08/2015. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of claque from the Web

In his 14th season, James has become a principal in the debate between his fans and the Michael Jordan claque over who is the Greatest of All-Time.

— bill livingston, cleveland.com, "Cavaliers LeBron James faces another 'unbeatable' Warriors team in NBA Finals: Bill Livingston (photos, video)", 31 May 2017
There’s a claque alongside to cheer the big boss and deride his doubters.

— adam gopnik, The New Yorker, "The Music Donald Trump Can’t Hear", 13 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'claque'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The word claque might call to mind the sound of a clap, and that's no accident. Claque is a French borrowing that descends from the verb claquer, meaning "to clap," and the noun claque, meaning "a clap." Those French words in turn originated in imitation of the sound associated with them. English speakers borrowed claque in the 19th century. At that time, the practice of infiltrating audiences with hired members was very common to French theater culture. Claque members received money and free tickets to laugh, cry, shout-and of course clap-in just the right spots, hopefully influencing the rest of the audience to do the same.