cause célèbre
noun
cause cé·lè·bre
ˌkȯz-sə-ˈleb 
-ˈle-brə
-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
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
Their case became a cause celebre and a polarizing one.
—
Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2025
Their fight became a cause celebre for the left, with powerful Democratic governors like California’s Gavin Newsom and Illinois’ JB Pritzker joining the cause and many cheering them on.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
But some residents complained they weren’t provided enough information about the project, which became a cause celebre for Republicans who led the way in stoking fears about the prospect of communist infiltration, given the Chinese ownership of the plant’s parent company.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The idea has become a cause celebre in certain circles.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
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
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
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Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2025
Their fight became a cause celebre for the left, with powerful Democratic governors like California’s Gavin Newsom and Illinois’ JB Pritzker joining the cause and many cheering them on.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025
But some residents complained they weren’t provided enough information about the project, which became a cause celebre for Republicans who led the way in stoking fears about the prospect of communist infiltration, given the Chinese ownership of the plant’s parent company.
—Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
The idea has become a cause celebre in certain circles.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Cause célèbre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cause%20c%C3%A9l%C3%A8bre. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
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