A little clique became a province (6)
I believe the answer is:
quebec
'province' is the definition.
(Quebec is an example)
'a little clique became a' is the wordplay.
'a little' indicates a hidden word.
'QUEBEC' can be found hidden inside 'clique became a'.
(Other definitions for quebec that I've seen before include "French-speaking Canadian provincial capital" , "Province of eastern Canada and port on St Lawrence river (6)" , "Comms code for Q" , "Canadian city and province, French-speaking" , ".French-speaking province of E Canada" .)