cordeliers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal / Historical
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 + CordeliersVocabulary
Collocations
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
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cordeliers”
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No, it is exclusively a historical reference to specific groups in French history.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
Who were the original Cordeliers?