A body of men who have joined or combined for a common purpose, especially of a political character… In general sense.

A small body of persons engaged in secret or private machination or intrigue; a junto, clique, côterie, party, faction.

= cabal, n.1 Obsolete. rare.

A knot of men associated together; a set, a clique; early applied to a private association with a political object; a secret society. Obsolete.

A small and exclusive party or set, a narrow coterie or circle: a term of reproach or contempt, applied generally to such as are considered to…

A coterie, circle; a (usually undesirable) set of people; an unpleasant place or situation.

= clique, n.

A circle of persons associated together and distinguished from ‘outsiders’, a ‘set’. A ‘set’ associated by certain exclusive interests, pursuits, or…

A place in which a group of people meet for the discussion of common interests; also, the group of people so meeting, spec. a literary clique. Also…

A small group of people privileged to receive confidential information, make important decisions, etc.