Liché

Liché is a nonstandard spelling variant of the English word cliché. It is not widely recognized as a separate word by major dictionaries and is generally considered a misspelling or a deliberate stylistic deviation rather than a distinct lexical item.

Origins and meaning: The standard term cliché comes from French cliché, meaning a stereotype or overused phrase. The nonstandard form “liché” does not change the underlying meaning and is used to refer to a cliché in the same sense, though it lacks formal acceptance as an alternative spelling.

Usage and context: In practice, “liché” appears mainly in informal writing, such as blogs, social media, or fan communities. When used intentionally, it can signal irony or a self-referential critique of overused tropes, or simply serve as a playful or attention-grabbing variant. In formal or scholarly writing, it is generally treated as a spelling error and corrected to cliché.

Pronunciation and orthography: The intended pronunciation is usually the same as cliché, but readers may interpret the variant at face value as an intentional stylistic choice. The standard English spelling is cliché, while “liché” is considered nonstandard.

See also: cliché; orthography; spelling variants; typographical variants.