A coterieof a particular kind is a small group of people who are close friends or have a common interest, and who do not want other people to join them.
[formal]
The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers. [+ of]
Synonyms: clique, group, set, camp More Synonyms of coterie
coterie in British English
(ˈkəʊtərɪ)
noun
a small exclusive group of friends or people with common interests; clique
Word origin
C18: from French, from Old French: association of tenants, from cotier (unattested) cottager, from Medieval Latin cotāriuscotter2; see cot2
coterie in American English
(ˈkoʊtəri)
noun
a close circle of friends who share a common interest or background; clique
SYNONYMY NOTE: coterie is a small, intimate, somewhat select group of people associated for social or otherreasons [a literary coterie]; circle suggests any group of people having in common some particular interest or pursuit[in music circles]; set refers to a group, usually larger and, hence, less exclusive than a , coterie, having a common background, interests, etc. [the sporting set]; clique refers to a small, highly exclusive group, often within a larger one, and impliessnobbery, selfishness, or, sometimes, intrigue [a clique of obscurantist poets]
Word origin
Fr, orig., organization of peasants holding land from a feudal lord < OFr cotier, cotter1
Examples of 'coterie' in a sentence
coterie
He had a small coterie of friends who ringfenced entry to his world.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He treats the establishment as a disreputable mafia rather than an exclusive coterie.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You can join the painting coterie down there.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
Around the room sat a large coterie of advisers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I have a small coterie of favourite places, which is quite enough for me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is surrounded by a coterie of advisers, some of whom are merely incompetent, others downright sinister.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
(noun)
Definition
a small exclusive group of friends or people with common interests
The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers.
Synonyms
clique
The country is run by a small clique of wealthy families.
group
a radical group within the Communist Party
set
the popular watering hole for the literary set
camp
Voters have not yet moved en masse to the Conservative camp.
circle
a small circle of friends
gang
Come on over; we've got lots of the old gang here.
outfit (informal)
He works for a private security outfit.
posse (informal)
cabal
He had been chosen by a cabal of fellow senators.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cabal
Definition
a small group of political plotters
He had been chosen by a cabal of fellow senators.
Synonyms
clique,
set,
party,
league,
camp,
coalition,
faction,
caucus,
junta,
coterie,
schism,
confederacy,
conclave
in the sense of camp
Definition
a group that supports a particular doctrine
Voters have not yet moved en masse to the Conservative camp.
Synonyms
faction,
group,
set,
party,
division,
section,
sector,
minority,
gang,
lobby,
bloc,
contingent,
pressure group,
junta,
clique,
coterie,
schism,
splinter group,
public-interest group (US, Canadian)
in the sense of circle
Definition
a group of people sharing an interest, activity, or upbringing