What does clique mean?
Word: Clique
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Clique means a small, close group of people who keep to themselves and do not readily let others in.
Word origin: From French, from Old French cliquer.
How do you spell clique?
Syllables: clique
Tricky part: The long vowel is the trap. Students expect ee or ea here, but the word writes that sound with a single i.
Watch out for: cleeque, cleaque
Memory tip: Machine and pizza have no ee either: a plain i gives that long sound in all three words.
Clique in a sentence
Example 1: By Class 7 the cricket fans had formed a clique at the back of the bus.
Example 2: Priya was glad when the new girl chose to sit with everyone rather than join a clique.
Example 3: A clique of older students ran the school magazine and rarely took fresh ideas.
Fun Fact
Mathematicians borrowed the word: in graph theory, a clique is a set of points in which every point is joined to every other, like a group where everyone knows everyone.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
cli_ _ _
a) qeu
b) que
c) cue
d) kue
Show answer
b) que. The k sound at the end comes from three letters that also close unique.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option to fill the blank:
The Old French verb cliquer, the source of clique, meant ___.
a) to hold on tightly
b) to shut a heavy door
c) to make a sharp noise
d) to sit close together
Show answer
c) to make a sharp noise. The verb imitated a clicking sound; the sense of a closed group came later.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with clique?
a) opaque
b) sleek
c) antique
d) physique
Show answer
a) opaque. Opaque ends like make; sleek, antique and physique end with the sound of peak.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with their meanings:
1. clique 2. committee 3. delegation a. a chosen party sent to speak for others b. a tight circle that keeps outsiders away c. a body picked to plan or decide things
a) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
d) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
Show answer
a) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a. A committee plans, a delegation carries a message, and a clique shuts others out.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why might a new student feel left out by a clique?
a) its members live in another town
b) its members stay in their own circle
c) its members study different subjects
d) its members have too much homework
Show answer
b) its members stay in their own circle
2. Which remark sounds most like a member of a clique?
a) Sorry, this table is just for us.
b) Ask the whole class to help.
c) Come and sit with us today.
d) Anyone can join the debate team.
Show answer
a) Sorry, this table is just for us.
