Cadre

noun
/ˈkɑːdreɪ/ (US) or /ˈkɑːdə/ (UK)
A small, trained core group of personnel who form the nucleus of a larger organisation, particularly a political or military movement.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The success of any flagship welfare scheme ultimately rests on a motivated and adequately staffed administrative cadre at the cutting-edge level, for it is the field functionary, not the policy on paper, who determines the quality of last-mile delivery.

Synonyms

core groupnucleuscorpscontingentvanguardbody

Antonyms

rank and filemasses

🌱 Word Family

cadre (n), cadres (n pl), cadre-based (adj compound), cadre-strength (n compound)

🔡 Root

French cadre = frame; Italian quadro = framed square; Latin quadrum = a square; Latin quattuor = four

📜 Etymology

Borrowed from French cadre ("frame"), from Italian quadro ("framed painting, square"), from Latin quadrum ("a square"), ultimately from quattuor ("four"); entered English in the late 18th century.

🧠 Memory Hook

Think of a "CAD frame" (computer-aided design frame): a cadre is the trained inner FRAME or skeleton around which an organisation is built — tying back to its root, French cadre "frame."

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