Well-read · Borrowed words · Politics & society
Cause célèbre: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Cause célèbre noun. A controversial issue or case that attracts wide public attention.
How to say it
kawz suh-LEB-ruh/ˌkɔːz sɛˈlɛbr(ə)/
4 syllables, stressed on the third (LEB).
Cause célèbre in a sentence
The closure of the village library became a cause célèbre, with famous authors joining the protest.
The trial turned a quiet bookseller into a cause célèbre.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- controversy
- scandal
- sensation
Where cause célèbre comes from
French for famous case, first used of notable lawsuits.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The trial turned a quiet bookseller into a _____.
- kismet
- wunderkind
- cause célèbre
Show the answer
cause célèbre: The trial turned a quiet bookseller into a cause célèbre.