cause cé·lè·bre (kôz? s?-l?b?, k?z? s?-l?b?r?)n. pl. causes cé·lè·bres (kôz? s?-l?b?, k?z? s?-l?b?r?) 1. An issue arousing widespread controversy or heated public debate.2. A celebrated legal case.[French : cause, case + célèbre, celebrated.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.cause célèbre (?k??z s??l?br?; -?l?b; French koz sel?br?) n, pl causes célèbres (?k??z s??l?br?z; -?l?b; ?k??z?z s??l?br?; -?l?bz; French koz sel?br?) (Communications & Information) a famous lawsuit, trial, or controversy[C19: from French: famous case]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014cause cé?lè?bre (?k?z s??l?b; Fr. ko?z se??l?b r?) n., pl. causes cé?lè?bres (?k?z s??l?b; Fr. ko?z se??l?b r?) any controversy that attracts great public attention. [1755?65;