callout

1 of 2

noun

call·​out ˈkȯl-ˌau̇t 

1

: the act or an instance of calling out

2

: an often bordered inset in a printed article or illustration that usually includes a key excerpt or detail

call out

2 of 2

verb

called out; calling out; calls out

transitive verb

1

: to summon into action

call out troops

2

: to challenge to a duel

3

: to order on strike

call out the workers

4

: to publicly criticize or fault (someone)

The FDA will have to start forcing companies to be transparent and call them out on it when they're not.

—Massimo Calabresi et al.

Examples of callout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

With 176 callouts in 2024, VMRG is the third-busiest backcountry SAR team in the nation. —Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025

To that end, Condon didn't want to obsess over a shot-for-shot callout to any particular numbers or meticulously recreate something from a classic film. —Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025

Verb

The South Carolina Republican then called out her four colleagues on social media. —Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2025

Trump calls out political rivals in wide-ranging eulogy Trump vacillated between eulogizing Kirk, celebrating his political achievements, and taking shots at his rivals, including former President Joe Biden. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for callout

• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout
• checkout
• closeout
• cutout
• devout
• dropout