cordeliers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low
UK/ˌkɔːdəˈlɪəz/US/ˌkɔːrdəˈlɪrz/

Formal / Historical

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Quick answer

What does “cordeliers” mean?

Members of a French religious order or political club, historically bound by a distinctive cord belt.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Members of a French religious order or political club, historically bound by a distinctive cord belt.

In historical contexts, 'Cordeliers' refers specifically to Franciscan friars (from the cord belt they wore) or to members of the revolutionary Cordeliers Club during the French Revolution.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No difference in meaning. Both variants use the same term for the same historical groups.

Connotations

Scholarly, historical, European-focused.

Frequency

Extremely rare in general usage in both dialects, found almost solely in historical texts.

Grammar

How to Use “cordeliers” in a Sentence

the + Cordeliers + verb (plural)adjective + Cordeliers

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
the CordeliersCordeliers ClubCordeliers Convent
medium
Franciscan Cordeliersrevolutionary Cordeliers
weak
members of the Cordeliershistory of the Cordeliers

Examples

Examples of “cordeliers” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Cordeliers convent was located in Paris.

American English

  • Cordeliers documents from the Revolution are rare.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical, religious studies, or French Revolution contexts.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Used as a precise historical term.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cordeliers”

Strong

Observant FranciscansCord-wearing friars

Neutral

Franciscansfriars

Weak

monksreligious brothers

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cordeliers”

secularslaypeople

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cordeliers”

  • Using it as a singular noun (it is plural). Incorrect: 'a cordelier' (though historically singular form exists, it's obsolete).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a very low-frequency, specialized historical term.

Both were revolutionary clubs. The Cordeliers Club was generally more radical and populist than the Jacobin Club in its early phase.

No, it is exclusively a historical reference to specific groups in French history.

In British English: /ˌkɔːdəˈlɪəz/. In American English: /ˌkɔːrdəˈlɪrz/. The stress is on the third syllable.

Members of a French religious order or political club, historically bound by a distinctive cord belt.

Cordeliers is usually formal / historical in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • None applicable

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'CORD' + 'liers' (like 'liers' in 'liers of a cord') – they were friars tied with a distinctive cord.

Conceptual Metaphor

None in common usage.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The radical Club met in the former convent of the Franciscan order.
Multiple Choice

Who were the original Cordeliers?