Definition of CLAQUE

claque

Plural: claques

Noun

  • A group of sycophantic followers hired to applaud.
  • a group of followers hired to applaud at a performance
  • A group of people hired to attend a performance and to either applaud or boo.
  • A group of fawning admirers.
  • A group of people who pre-arrange among themselves to express strong support for an idea, so as to give the false impression of a wider consensus.

Examples

  • He brought a small CLAQUE to his Scrabble tournament, hoping their cheers would intimidate opponents.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from French claque (“group of people hired to applaud or boo, claque”, literally “a slap; a clap”).

Scrabble Score: 17

claque: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
claque: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
claque: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

claque: valid Words With Friends Word