What does cliquishness mean?
Cliquishness is the noun describing the quality of being cliquish — that is, of belonging to or favouring a small, exclusive group that keeps others at arm's length. A clique is a tight-knit circle whose members admit newcomers reluctantly or not at all, and when such behaviour becomes noticeable or problematic, we speak of its cliquishness. The word appears most often in discussions of schools, universities, workplaces, and other social settings where informal hierarchies form: reviewers might lament the cliquishness of a literary scene, or HR teams address cliquishness that leaves colleagues isolated. Its connotations are almost invariably negative, suggesting snobbery, insularity, or petty exclusion rather than healthy friendship. Related forms include the adjective cliquish, the adverb cliquishly, and the base word clique. For anyone describing social dynamics precisely, cliquishness names a familiar phenomenon that simpler words like 'exclusiveness' do not quite capture.
nounThe quality or tendency of forming, or being characteristic of, a small exclusive group of people who keep others out; exclusiveness within a closed circle.
- The tendency of a group to be exclusive and closed to outsiders.
- The state of belonging to or behaving as part of such an exclusive circle.
"The department's cliquishness made it hard for new employees to feel welcome."
"Her memoir describes the suffocating cliquishness of her elite boarding school."
"Managers were trained to spot cliquishness in team dynamics before it turned toxic."
As a mass noun denoting a quality, cliquishness has no standard plural form; quantity is expressed through phrasing such as 'instances of cliquishness'.
"Several instances of cliquishness were reported during the orientation week."
Every school cafeteria and office break room runs on it — cliquishness is the invisible force that decides who gets invited and who eats alone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cliquishness
Cliquishness derives from "clique", a French word adopted into English in the early 18th century to mean a small exclusive group of people. The French term's own deeper origins are uncertain, though it may ultimately trace to a Germanic source. English speakers added the suffixes -ish (characteristic of) and -ness (state or quality) to form cliquishness, literally "the state of being like a clique".
Related word forms
How cliquishness is actually used
Almost always carries negative connotations, implying unfair exclusion or snobbery; it is rarely used neutrally. The word is common in sociological, workplace, and educational writing.
Easily confused with cliquishness
"Click" is a short sharp sound or a mouse/button press, while "clique" (and its derivative cliquishness) refers to a small exclusive social group — the two sound alike but share nothing in meaning.