What does cliquy mean?
Cliquy is an adjective describing people, groups, or behavior associated with a clique: a close-knit circle whose membership can involve exclusion, favoritism, or social snobbery. The word is especially critical when it suggests that an ingroup places its own preferences or status above those of outsiders. It can describe a person who tends to form exclusive circles, a group that operates like a clique, or an atmosphere marked by secrecy and exclusivity. In conversation, “cliquy” often implies deliberate exclusion rather than merely a group of friends with shared interests. The alternative spelling “cliquey” is common in both British and American English. Because “cliquy” carries a distinctly negative connotation, it is generally more appropriate as a description of observed behavior than as a neutral label for a social network.
adjectiveCharacterized by or tending to form a clique, especially in an exclusive or snobbish way.
- Inclined to form or participate in cliques; characterized by an exclusive, insular, or snobbish group identity.
"She resisted the cliquy atmosphere that seemed to dominate the school."
"The committee developed a cliquy reputation after excluding several qualified applicants."
"She found the literary circle far too cliquy and welcomed newcomers into its discussions."
Cliquy is all about belonging—and all about deciding who gets to belong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does cliquy come from?
The underlying English noun “clique” was borrowed from French, where it referred to a group or set of people bound together by shared interests. The adjective “cliquy” was formed in English from that noun with the suffix “-y,” meaning “characterized by” or “tending toward.” Its related forms “cliquish” and “cliquism” reflect the same English root, while “cliquey” is an alternative spelling of the adjective.
Related word forms
How cliquy is actually used
Usually informal and critical. It commonly suggests that a group is deliberately exclusionary, elitist, or concerned with preserving its own status.
Easily confused with cliquy
A clique is a close-knit or exclusive group, whereas cliquy is an adjective describing the group or the exclusionary, snobbish attitude associated with it.