English Lexicon

Cause célèbre

/ˌkoʊz səˈlɛbrə/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A controversial issue, trial, or incident that becomes the subject of widespread public attention, debate, and dispute.

    "The environmental trial quickly turned into a international cause célèbre, drawing protestors from around the globe."
  2. 2

    A prominent legal case or scandal that captures public imagination and polarizes opinion.

    "Her wrongful dismissal lawsuit became a cause célèbre within the corporate world."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Borrowed directly from French, meaning literally a 'celebrated case'. It entered the English lexicon in the 19th century from legal and journalistic contexts to describe any controversial issue that generates widespread public debate and passionate argument.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Cause célèbre"?

10 Global Lexicons: How "Cause célèbre" is said worldwide

Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Cause célèbre"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Cause célèbre" Synonym Map