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
Ashworth	['æʃwɜ:θ]
Eva	E-vah (Spanish, Italian, Danish), EE-və (English), E-fah (German), AY-vah (Dutch)	Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English, Czech, Slovak, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Ice
ValÉRie	va-le-REE (French)	French, Czech
Andre	awn-DRAY	English, African American
Arnifrid	-	Ancient Germanic
Woo-Jin	oo-jeen	Korean