cause célèbre

American  

[kawz suh-leb-ruh, -leb, kohz sey-leb-r^uh] / ˈkɔz səˈlɛb rə, -ˈlɛb, koʊz seɪˈlɛb rə /

noun

PLURAL

causes célèbres

1. any controversy that attracts great public attention, as a celebrated legal case or trial.

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cause célèbre British  

/ koz selɛbrə, ˈkɔːz səˈlɛbrə, -ˈlɛb /

noun

1. a famous lawsuit, trial, or controversy

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cause célèbre Cultural  

1. A cause or issue, generally political, that arouses public opinion: “The question of the draft was a cause célèbre in the 1960s.” From French, meaning “celebrated cause.”

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Etymology

Origin of cause célèbre

First recorded in 1755–65; from French: literally, “famous case”

Example Sentences

Many may recall that she was briefly jailed in contempt of court, becoming a cause célèbre among anti-gay Republicans.

From Slate

The issue has long been a cause celebre among the US political right as well as separatist groups in Nigeria's mostly Christian southeast who have been lobbying Washington to support their cause.

From Barron's

As a kind of fulcrum for his storytelling, Mr. Davenport uses Elizabeth Bouvia, who in 1983 became a cause célèbre of the right-to-die movement.

From The Wall Street Journal

An average of 6.26 million viewers tuned in to watch “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” as the comedian addressed his suspension that became a free speech cause celebre, according to Nielsen.

From Los Angeles Times

The case of Lucy Connolly has become a cause celebre to some in the UK and beyond.

From BBC

Related Words

• hot potato
• talk of the town
• uproar