| | A '''clique''' is generally defined as a small, exclusive group or circle of people who come together for a common purpose or common reasons or interests.<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clique Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of ''clique'']</ref> This definition is mostly used to describe high school students who band together based on such reasons (such as [[elitism|elitist]] and snobbish teenage girls from rich/high income/high-profile families, for which the term is most often used and in a [[pejorative]] sense; this type of clique tend to view themselves as "superior" to others, to look down on and socially exclude anyone they disapprove of, and to engage in behaviors such as [[bullying]], [[aggression]], cruelty, ruthlessness, [[manipulation]] and [[rumormongering]] to maintain power and control), although it can also be used to describe subcultural groups within society such as jocks, [[nerd]]s/[[geek]]s, [[punk]]s, [[Goth (subculture)|Goths]], hipsters and [[emo]]s. | | A '''clique''' is generally defined as a small, exclusive group or circle of people who come together for a common purpose or common reasons or interests.<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clique Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of ''clique'']</ref> This definition is mostly used to describe high school students who band together based on such reasons (such as [[elitism|elitist]] and snobbish teenage girls from rich/high income/high-profile families, for which the term is most often used and in a [[pejorative]] sense; this type of clique tend to view themselves as "superior" to others, to look down on and socially exclude anyone they disapprove of, and to engage in behaviors such as [[bullying]], [[aggression]], cruelty, ruthlessness, [[manipulation]] and [[rumormongering]] to maintain power and control), although it can also be used to describe subcultural groups within society such as jocks, [[nerd]]s/[[geek]]s, [[punk]]s, [[Goth (subculture)|Goths]], hipsters and [[emo]]s. |