cause célèbre

1. A controversy that causes public debate. The town's polluted drinking water became a national cause célêbre when it was discovered that the local leaders had allowed it to happen.

2. A legal case that is famous or celebrated. The trial became a cause célêbre for those who felt the defendant was victimized by the legal system.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Matti	MAHT-tee	Finnish
Michael	MIE-kəl (English), MI-khah-el (German), MEE-kah-el (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish)	English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Valentine (1)	VAL-ən-tien	English
Rio (1)	-	Various
Padrig	-	Welsh, Breton
IsabÈL	-	Occitan