# clique

/ˈkɫik/ (US) · /klˈiːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clique
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. mathematics

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

in math, a part of a graph where every point is connected to every other point.

For teachers: a subset of vertices of an undirected graph such that every two distinct vertices in the subset are adjacent.

- The professor asked us to find the largest clique in the network diagram.
- Finding the maximum clique in a complex graph is a classic problem in computational complexity theory.

### 3. internet group

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

a group of websites that all link to each other and have strict rules about who can join.

For teachers: a collection of related websites that form an exclusive network by linking to one another, often managed by a single owner.

- In the early days of the web, many personal blogs joined a specialized clique to get more visitors.
- The digital artist joined an invite-only web clique to ensure their portfolio was linked alongside other high-quality creators in the same niche.

### 4. to form a group

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to form a small, exclusive group or to plot something secretly with others.

For teachers: to associate in an exclusive or clannish manner; to act together secretly to achieve a specific goal.

- The staff began to clique together against the new manager's policies.
- The dissident members of the board began to clique, meeting in private to coordinate their vote against the proposed merger.

Usage: This verb is intransitive and often implies a level of secrecy or exclusion.

## Examples

- The popular kids formed a clique and ignored everyone else.
- In high school, it can be difficult to make new friends if every social group has already formed a tight clique.
- The office environment became toxic as a small clique of senior managers began making important decisions during private lunches, effectively bypassing the official departmental channels.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.