1
dialectal, chiefly British
: a piece of cloth or leather : rag
2
: a blow especially with the hand
When she was naughty, she would get a clout from her mother.
also
: a hard hit in baseball
3
: a white cloth on a stake or frame used as a target in archery
clouted; clouting; clouts
1
: to cover or patch with a clout
clouted his worn-out shoe with a piece of leather
2
: to hit forcefully
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He clouted him on the back of the head.
Synonyms
Noun
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb
Examples of clout in a Sentence
Noun
She used her political clout to have another school built.
gave the stubborn handle a solid clout to make it turn
Verb
He clouted 19 home runs last year.
He'll clout me around the head if he finds out what I've done.
Recent Examples on the Web
Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 20 Nov. 2023
The convergence of financial benefit and emotional clout all but guarantees that residential real estate markets will rebound after their recent slump.
—Miles S. Nadal, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
Others said Cameron would bring clout and experience to the role.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023
Consider the growing clout of public-sector unions, which Judis and Teixeira mention only in passing.
—Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 9 Nov. 2023
Novo using its clout A September study by the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) suggested the new rules could cause three fewer rare disease drugs to come to market each year.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 6 Nov. 2023
Other artists are definitely going to try it, if not necessarily successfully — few can match Beyoncé and Swift’s clout.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
Some have capitalized on this moment to inflame Russia or gain clout by posting video game clips or older images of war recontextualized.
—Joan Donovan, TIME, 13 Oct. 2023
In a show of its growing clout in the region, China helped broker a deal in March reestablishing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, longtime bitter foes.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
The home run derby title went to St. Augustine senior first baseman M.J. Sweeney, who clouted six home runs in the first round and seven more in the final round to out-slug Madison senior outfielder Jake Jackson, who had six home runs in the first round but only three in the final.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2023
Professional sports leagues and clubs are asked to use their platforms and clout to raise awareness.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2023
The home run reminded folks that Schwarber clouted a Darvish pitch just last October, into Petco Park’s upper deck beyond right field, during the National League Championship Series.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
After Trump left his office, his allies, with money to make and clout to keep, turned to Saudi Arabia as a business pipeline.
—New York Times, 27 July 2022
That’s because, despite your plutonium card status, earned by staying across that group’s thousands of properties, advisors have clout with that particular hotel based on regularly booking clients there.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes, 7 June 2021
The researchers then clout the strontium with a laser that puts the atoms in a superposition state.
—Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2020
Jaxson Weber-Stewart and Jarrett Tjaden clouted back-to-back doubles for the big hits.
—Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, 15 June 2019
See More
Noun
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Elon Musk used his considerable social media clout to amplify an online mob’s misguided rants accusing the 22-year-old from California of being an undercover agent in a neo-Nazi group.
—Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, 20 Nov. 2023
The convergence of financial benefit and emotional clout all but guarantees that residential real estate markets will rebound after their recent slump.
—Miles S. Nadal, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023
Others said Cameron would bring clout and experience to the role.
—Karla Adam, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2023
Consider the growing clout of public-sector unions, which Judis and Teixeira mention only in passing.
—Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 9 Nov. 2023
Novo using its clout A September study by the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) suggested the new rules could cause three fewer rare disease drugs to come to market each year.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 6 Nov. 2023
Other artists are definitely going to try it, if not necessarily successfully — few can match Beyoncé and Swift’s clout.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
Some have capitalized on this moment to inflame Russia or gain clout by posting video game clips or older images of war recontextualized.
—Joan Donovan, TIME, 13 Oct. 2023
In a show of its growing clout in the region, China helped broker a deal in March reestablishing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, longtime bitter foes.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Verb
Rapinoe, her replacement, clouted her kick well above the bar.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023
The home run derby title went to St. Augustine senior first baseman M.J. Sweeney, who clouted six home runs in the first round and seven more in the final round to out-slug Madison senior outfielder Jake Jackson, who had six home runs in the first round but only three in the final.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2023
Professional sports leagues and clubs are asked to use their platforms and clout to raise awareness.
—Darlene Superville, Chicago Tribune, 26 May 2023
The home run reminded folks that Schwarber clouted a Darvish pitch just last October, into Petco Park’s upper deck beyond right field, during the National League Championship Series.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023
After Trump left his office, his allies, with money to make and clout to keep, turned to Saudi Arabia as a business pipeline.
—New York Times, 27 July 2022
That’s because, despite your plutonium card status, earned by staying across that group’s thousands of properties, advisors have clout with that particular hotel based on regularly booking clients there.
—Doug Gollan, Forbes, 7 June 2021
The researchers then clout the strontium with a laser that puts the atoms in a superposition state.
—Chris Lee, Ars Technica, 13 Apr. 2020
Jaxson Weber-Stewart and Jarrett Tjaden clouted back-to-back doubles for the big hits.
—Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, 15 June 2019
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English clūt; akin to Middle High German klōz lump, Russian gluda
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of clout was
before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near clout
Cite this Entry
“Clout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clout. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
clout
nounˈklau̇t
1
: a blow especially with the hand or with a baseball bat
2
: influence entry 1 sense 1
political clout
clout
verb
More from Merriam-Webster on clout
Nglish: Translation of clout for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of clout for Arabic Speakers
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