noun
cabal
kuh-BAHL
noun
1
A small group secretly plotting together, especially in politics.
"A cabal of senior officials pushed the policy through without debate."
How to Use Cabal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA secretive group scheming together, usually for political ends.
When to use it
Carries a negative, conspiratorial tone.
Common pairings
a secret cabal
a cabal of insiders
Word Forms
cabaled past tense, caballed past tense, cabals plural, Cabals plural, cabals singular
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Etymology
From French cabale, ultimately from Hebrew kabalah ("received tradition") — the same root as the mystical Kabbalah.