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

City of Ocilla officials cut off the water to Irwin County Hospital for unpaid water bills Monday, prompting a callout by the public for donated water, according to residents who spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday and Wednesday. —Ariel Hart, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026

There isn’t an explicit callout of why the law was devised and enacted. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026

Verb

Sometimes, the crew watches it together, calling out each other’s shots and celebrating the project’s completion. —Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Marketing only calls out the source material for the Japan jersey because Adidas is no longer officially tied to the American National Team, but those who know their kit history won’t miss the connection. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Feb. 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