clout
n. uncountablen. power and influence over other people or events. In the world of social media, it often means being famous or having many followers.
n. influence or power, especially within politics or business circles. In contemporary digital contexts, refers to social capital or status gained through online visibility.
She has a lot of political clout in this city.
The young influencer used his online clout to secure a partnership with a major fashion brand.
While the senator lacked formal authority over the committee, her significant personal clout allowed her to sway the final vote in favor of the new environmental regulations.
From Middle English clout (“piece of cloth”), from Old English clūt (“piece of cloth, patch; metal plate”), from Proto-West Germanic klūt, from Proto-Germanic klūtaz, from Proto-Indo-European gelewdos, from Proto-Indo-European gel- (“to ball up, amass”). The influence sense originated in the dialect of Chicago, but has become widespread. Cognate with Old Norse klútr (“kerchief”), Swedish klut, Danish klud, Middle High German klōz (“lump”), whence German Kloß (“clump”), and dialectal Russian глуда (gluda). See also cleat.
Commonly paired with the verbs 'have', 'gain', or 'wield'.