Relating to or characteristic of a clique; tending to form exclusive groups that exclude outsiders.
From 'clique' (French 'clique,' from Middle French, possibly from 'cliquet,' a latch that clicks) plus '-y' (adjective suffix). The term reflects the clicking-together nature of group membership.
The word 'cliquy' is so unfashionable that most people now say 'cliquish' instead, but 'cliquy' has a slangy, gossipy quality that captures how exclusionary groups actually feel—less formal, more teenage.
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