Clique

A clique (AusE, CanE, UK: /ˈkliːk/ or US: /ˈklɪk/; French: [klik]), in the social sciences, is a group of individuals who interact with one another and share similar interests rather than with others.^[1] Interacting with cliques is part of normative social development regardless of gender, ethnicity, or popularity. Although cliques are most commonly studied during adolescence and middle childhood development, they exist in all age groups. They are often bound together by shared social characteristics such as ethnicity and socioeconomic status.^[2] Examples of common or stereotypical adolescent cliques include athletes, nerds, and "outsiders".^[3]

Typically, people in a clique will not have a completely open friend group and can, therefore, "ban" members if they do something considered unacceptable, such as talking to someone disliked. Some cliques tend to isolate themselves as a group and view themselves as superior to others, which can be demonstrated through bullying and other antisocial behaviors.^[4]