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.
Did you know?
Slang Meaning of Clout
The slang sense of clout refers to attention, fame, popularity, and sometimes notoriety, especially the kind one may achieve on social media, whether by posting a controversial hot take or performing a stunt on video in the hope that it goes viral. Learn more >
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
Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
While its manufacturing scale and ownership of retail chains like LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut give it market clout, the Franco-Italian company is still tied to the economics of the luxury segment, where lower-cost frames can risk undermining profit margins.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Pellegrino, a 6-foot-3 forward who’s nearly devoid of body fat and brims with energy, clouted the ball out the air for the third goal and ran toward the supporters section, raising the crowd’s volume.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clout
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
These artists want acting roles — particularly ones that get them cultural clout and not just a check — and A24 is seeking castings that co-sign their project’s zeitgeist-y relevancy.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 25 Feb. 2026
While its manufacturing scale and ownership of retail chains like LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut give it market clout, the Franco-Italian company is still tied to the economics of the luxury segment, where lower-cost frames can risk undermining profit margins.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Your competition at this point in the Netflix dating show’s run will include 10 seasons’ worth of cheaters and liars, clout chasers and schmoozers and players.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2026
Pellegrino, a 6-foot-3 forward who’s nearly devoid of body fat and brims with energy, clouted the ball out the air for the third goal and ran toward the supporters section, raising the crowd’s volume.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clout
Cite this Entry
“Clout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clout. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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