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cause célèbre

Pronunciation: /ˌkɔːz sɛˈlɛbr(ə), koz selɛbʀ/

Definition of cause célèbre

noun (plural causes célèbres pronunc. same)

  • a controversial issue that attracts a great deal of public attention: suddenly, saving the station’s architectural integrity became a cause célèbre

Origin:

mid 18th century: French, literally 'famous case'

cause célèbre in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cause célèbre in the US English dictionary

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