Word
Definition
n. 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.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“She has a lot of political clout in this city.”
contextual
“The young influencer used his online clout to secure a partnership with a major fashion brand.”
complex
“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.”
Usage
Commonly paired with the verbs 'have', 'gain', or 'wield'.
Real-World Examples
“Xisco likes the idea that, in a football world dominated by the financial clout of European clubs, this is a record none of the household names are ever likely to surpass.” “Mamdani's growing clout pulls Democrats leftward, shaking party establishment.” “Its cultural and political clout, however, have extended far beyond the dining table.” “Feifei Rob – it’s Rob who has the clout! He has lots of followers and some real influence on social media.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. clout list
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/clout
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0