clique

clique — noun

1. a tightly connected social circle whose members keep mostly to themselves and ma

1.nounB2
Definition

a tightly connected social circle whose members keep mostly to themselves and make it difficult for outsiders to join

Example

During her first week at school, Aiko realised she could not join the popular clique.

adjective + clique describing social exclusivity

At the office, a clique of senior staff ate lunch and never invited anyone else.

clique of + plural noun group

Common collocations
  • exclusive clique
  • popular clique
  • social clique
  • tight-knit clique
  • join a clique
  • form a clique
  • belong to a clique
Synonyms
  • circle

    neutral; simply describes a social group without implying exclusivity

  • inner circle

    suggests privilege and closeness to a powerful person, often less negative than clique

  • cabal

    stronger negative connotation; implies secrecy and plotting, usually political

  • gang

    implies strong loyalty and often territorial or criminal behaviour, not social exclusion

Antonyms
  • open group

    a set of people that welcomes new members freely

Grammar Patterns

clique + of + plural noun (a clique of friends)

adjective + clique (an exclusive clique)

Usage Note

Commonly carries a negative connotation, suggesting the group deliberately excludes non-members. Neutral synonyms like 'group' or 'circle' are safer for positive or neutral descriptions.

Common Mistakes

My study group is a friendly clique.
My study group is a friendly bunch.
'clique' has a negative meaning; use 'group' or 'bunch' for neutral or positive descriptions.
The three friends formed a clique that welcomed everyone.
The three friends formed a group that welcomed everyone.
a group that welcomes others is not a clique by definition.

Word family

  • cliquey
    adjectiveC1
  • cliquish
    adjectiveC1
  • cliquishness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Clique, circle, inner circle, gang, and cabal all refer to groups of people, but they differ sharply in connotation and use. 'Circle' is the most neutral — it simply describes a social group with shared interests, as in 'a wide circle of friends,' with no implication of exclusion. 'Inner circle' suggests a privileged group close to a powerful person (e.g., 'the president's inner circle'), carrying a hint of exclusivity but not the unfriendliness of a clique. 'Clique' is distinctly negative, emphasising that the group deliberately keeps others out — it is common in school and workplace contexts. 'Gang' implies strong loyalty and often a connection to criminal or territorial behaviour ('a street gang'), which clique does not. 'Cabal' is the strongest and rarest, suggesting a small secret group plotting against others ('a cabal of corrupt officials').

circle ↗inner circlegang ↗cabal

Common collocations

Nouns

  • members
  • mentality

Phrases

  • break into a clique
  • part of a clique

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Clique entered English in the early 1700s from French, where it meant 'a small band or group.' The French word may come from Old French 'cliquer' — meaning 'to make a clicking sound' — possibly describing a group that appeared suddenly or drew attention noisily. Since its arrival in English, clique has carried a slightly negative tone of exclusivity.