cause célèbre

[ kawz suh-leb-ruh, -leb; French kohz sey-leb-ruh ]

noun

, plural causes cé·lè·bres [kawz, s, uh, -, leb, -r, uh, z, s, uh, -, lebz, kaw, -ziz s, uh, -, leb, -r, uh, -, leb, kohz sey-, leb, -, r, uh].

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

cause célèbre

/ koz selɛbrə; ˈkɔːz səˈlɛbrə; -ˈlɛb /

noun

1. a famous lawsuit, trial, or controversy

cause célèbre

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.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cause célèbre¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cause célèbre¹

C19: from French: famous case