in-crowd
B2Informal, slightly journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
A small, exclusive group of people who are perceived as popular, fashionable, or influential within a particular social context.
The socially dominant or 'cool' clique within a school, workplace, or community; those who set trends and from whom others seek approval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries connotations of exclusivity, snobbery, and social hierarchy. Implies that membership is desirable but not easily gained.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Slightly more common in American media discourse on popularity (e.g., high school dramas).
Connotations
Both varieties share the core connotation of a fashionable elite. In the UK, it might be used more ironically.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both; common in lifestyle magazines, teen fiction, and social commentary.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be part of the ~join the ~aspire to be in the ~cater to the ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “run with the in-crowd”
- “pander to the in-crowd”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except metaphorically for a dominant management clique.
Academic
Used in sociology or media studies discussing social dynamics.
Everyday
Common when discussing school, university, or local social scenes.
Technical
Not technical.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The party was full of the local in-crowd, all wearing the same designer labels.
- He never cared much for the university in-crowd and their pretentious debates.
American English
- In high school, she desperately wanted to be part of the in-crowd.
- The new boutique caters specifically to the city's wealthy in-crowd.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The popular in-crowd sits at that table every lunchtime.
- She is friends with the in-crowd at her office.
- Despite his success, he always felt like an outsider looking in at the media in-crowd.
- The restaurant lost its appeal once it became too associated with the predictable in-crowd.
- His research examines how the linguistic markers used by the adolescent in-crowd reinforce social boundaries.
- The policy was widely criticized as being designed by and for the Westminster in-crowd, with little regard for the provinces.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a crowd, but only those 'IN' vogue or 'IN'vited are inside it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE IS BEING INSIDE A CIRCLE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'внутренняя толпа'. Use 'избранный круг', 'сливки общества', or 'крутая тусовка' depending on context.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'in-crowd' as an adjective (e.g., 'an in-crowd person' – use 'popular').
- Confusing with 'crowded in'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely implication of the phrase 'the in-crowd' in a sentence?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is descriptive but often used with a slight negative or ironic tone, highlighting exclusivity and superficiality. Context defines the speaker's attitude.
It is informal. In formal contexts, use terms like 'social elite', 'dominant clique', or 'inner circle'.
They are similar. 'In-crowd' emphasizes popularity and trendiness within a larger setting (like a school). 'Clique' is more general for any small, exclusive group and can be neutral or negative.
Yes, the standard spelling is hyphenated: 'in-crowd'. The unhyphenated 'incrowd' is non-standard.
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