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cause célèbre

noun [C]
 
 
/ˌkɔːz.selˈeb.rə/ US  /ˌkɑːz-/ (plural causes célèbres)

Definition

an event, such as a famous legal trial, that attracts a lot of public attentionForeign words and phrases used in EnglishTopics and areas of interest
(Definition of cause célèbre noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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