clique

noun

ˈklik 

also

ˈklēk 

: a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons

especially : one held together by common interests, views, or purposes

high school cliques

cliquey

ˈkli-kē 

also

ˈklē- 

adjective

cliquish

ˈkli-kish 

adjective

cliquishly adverb

cliquishness noun

Synonyms of clique

• circle
• crowd
• network
• community
• bunch
• gang
• pack
• clan
• coterie
• coven

Examples of clique in a Sentence

that clique refuses to even talk to outsiders at their lunch table

Recent Examples on the Web

In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

Last week, the county paid $8 million to settle a long-pending lawsuit by multiple sheriff’s deputies who alleged they were pressured to quit or leave the East Los Angeles station by an internal deputy clique known as the Banditos. —Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026

Neither wants to navigate the cliques and social politics of this messy consolidated school. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

Instead, the researchers think the violence stemmed from a breakdown of friendships and escalations between cliques and rivals. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for clique

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek
• leak

Kids Definition

clique

noun

ˈklēk  ˈklik 

: a small group of people who spend time together and are not friendly to other people

cliquey

ˈklē-kē 

ˈkli-

adjective