cause célèbre

noun

cause cé·​lè·​bre ˌkȯz-sə-ˈleb  -ˈle-brə 

ˌkōz-,

-ˈlebrᵊ

variants or less commonly cause celebre

plural causes célèbres also causes celebres

same

 

1

: a legal case that excites widespread interest

2

: a notorious person, thing, incident, or episode

Synonyms

• celeb
• celebrity
• figure
• icon
• ikon
• light
• luminary
• megastar
• name
• notability
• notable
• notoriety
• personage
• personality
• somebody
• standout
• star
• superstar
• VIP

Examples of cause célèbre in a Sentence

a cause célèbre from some reality TV show whose fame hadn't even lasted the proverbial 15 minutes

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, he’s become an unexpected new conservative cause celebre as a growing contingent of commentators take his side. —Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025

Jurors heard closing arguments Tuesday in the case of Daniel Penny, who has become a cause celebre for some of President-elect 's closest allies. , a 26-year-old former Marine, is charged in a New York state court with second-degree manslaughter and negligent homicide. —Sean O'Driscoll, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

The case also became a cause celebre among Republican presidential hopefuls. —Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024

Ever since the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos outside the womb are considered children, the fertility treatment known as in vitro fertilization has become a political cause celebre. —Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 5 Oct. 2024

Opposition to non-compete agreements has become a new cause celebre on the left. —The Editorial Board, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023

Since then, his fortunes apparently have changed and Floyd has become a something of a cause celebre in conservative circles. —Chris Joyner, ajc, 29 Aug. 2023

Mitnick became a cause celebre for hackers who considered his 5-year prison term excessive. —Time, 21 July 2023

His feud with the Commonwealth has turned him into cause celebre in conservative circles and has even put him on a new career path. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 5 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, celebrated case

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1