noun
clique
kleek
noun
1
A small, exclusive group of people who spend time together and often exclude others.
"The new student found it hard to break into the popular clique."
How to Use Clique
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tight, closed-off social group that doesn't easily let outsiders in.
Common mistake
Usually negative in tone — being part of a "clique" suggests snobbishness or exclusion, unlike a neutral "group of friends."
Common pairings
popular clique
form a clique
part of the clique
Word Forms
cliqued past tense, cliques plural, cliques singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “clique”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new student found it hard to break into the popular _____.
Etymology
Borrowed from French clique, likely of imitative origin, possibly influenced by the similar word claque.