Clout
noun /klaʊt/ — Influence and social power, especially online.
Definition
Influence or power — in modern usage, social influence and reach, especially the power to shape culture or opinion through platform and following.
Beyond the definition
Clout is the currency of the attention economy — social capital made legible through follower counts and engagement metrics. The pursuit of clout has replaced older aspirations in some communities; the accumulation of it has produced new forms of power that bypass traditional institutions.
Origin & history
From Old English clut (a small piece of cloth, a patch). The original meaning was physical — a punch, a patch. The modern social-power meaning emerged from African-American vernacular in the 20th century and became standard internet slang by the 2010s.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She had the clout to change industry practice — a post from her could reach fifty million people.
He chased clout rather than quality and ended up with neither.
The currency of clout is attention, and attention has no inherent connection to correctness.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Clout” when the meaning fits your context: Influence or power — in modern usage, social influence and reach, especially the power to shape culture or opinion through platform and following.
Synonyms
influence, reach, social power, standing
Antonyms
obscurity, powerlessness
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Dominant Standing and Pointing
Two adults stand in a room; one is standing tall and pointing, while the other is looking down, excluded from the decision.
The standing, dominant figure possesses the clout in this scene. Their influence and reach are visible in their posture, showing the power to shape the situation and the decision-making process, while the other party is effectively sidelined by this social influence.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Clout" mean?
Clout is noun meaning: Influence and social power, especially online.. Influence or power — in modern usage, social influence and reach, especially the power to shape culture or opinion through platform and following.
Where does the word "Clout" come from?
From Old English clut (a small piece of cloth, a patch). The original meaning was physical — a punch, a patch. The modern social-power meaning emerged from African-American vernacular in the 20th century and became standard internet slang by the 2010s.