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

Stand Up Placer officials said the organization’s Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team, which dispatches advocates to hospitals and crime scenes alongside law enforcement, responded to 856 callouts, up from 812 the year before. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Players and Storytellers can also easily find safety tools through explicit TTRPG Safety Toolkit callouts. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 30 July 2026

Verb

Lindsay had called out Danielle for not being as open in front of the cameras about her relationship. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026

The Philippines began to release video of China violating the arbitration ruling, and calling out the illegality of China’s actions on social media. — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1882, 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