Cadre
[KAH-dray]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, mid-19th century
1.
A small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession.
2.
A member of an activist group.
Examples of Cadre in a sentence
"A cadre of heart specialists was on call for the transplant procedure."
"The cadre joined the gathering in front of the statehouse to listen to speakers."
About Cadre
This word, which has come to mean a group of specially trained people, traces back to the Latin word "quadrus," meaning "square." The Latin word was pulled into Italian ("quadro") and then to French, before "cadre" was added to English in the 19th century. Despite the origin, you're allowed to have more than four people in your cadre today.
Did you Know?
If you're a member of a cadre, you have a special purpose. "Cadre" is used to describe a small group of people who have been trained in a particular profession or skill. The word also has a history of being used to describe groups of activists and revolutionaries, but today it can be applied to a single member.
