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noun Uncommon

cadre

KAH-duh

Cadre (noun) means a small, tightly organized group of trained people who form the core of a larger organization or movement. Example: “A cadre of experienced engineers led the project from the start.”

noun
1
A small, tightly organized group of trained people who form the core of a larger organization or movement.
"A cadre of experienced engineers led the project from the start."
"The party built its power around a disciplined cadre of activists."

How to Use Cadre

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA core group of trained, committed people at the heart of an organization.

Common pairings
a small cadre cadre of experts

Word Forms

cadres plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

A _____ of experienced engineers led the project from the start.

Etymology

Borrowed from French cadre, from Italian quadro ("square, framework"), from Latin quadrum — the original sense was a "frame" or organizational skeleton.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for cadre

See all rhymes for cadre →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cadre” mean?

The word “cadre” means a small, tightly organized group of trained people who form the core of a larger organization or movement. In plain terms, a core group of trained, committed people at the heart of an organization.

How do you pronounce “cadre”?

“Cadre” is pronounced KAH-duh (/ˈkɑ.dɹeɪ/ in IPA).

How do you use “cadre” in a sentence?

Here is “cadre” used in a sentence: “A cadre of experienced engineers led the project from the start.”

What part of speech is “cadre”?

“Cadre” is a noun.

Where does the word “cadre” come from?

The word “cadre” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French cadre, from Italian quadro ("square, framework"), from Latin quadrum — the original sense was a "frame" or organizational skeleton.

Is “cadre” a common word?

“Cadre” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial