clout
a blow, especially with the hand; cuff: The bully gave him a painful clout on the head.
Informal. pull; strong influence; muscle, especially political power: a wealthy campaign contributor with clout at city hall.
Baseball. a long hit, especially an extra-base hit: A hard clout to deep center field drove in the winning run.
Archery.
the mark or target shot at, especially in long-distance shooting.
a shot that hits the mark.
Also called clout nail . a nail for attaching sheet metal to wood, having a short shank with a broad head.
Archaic.
a patch or piece of cloth or other material used to mend something.
any worthless piece of cloth; rag.
an article of clothing (usually used contemptuously).
to strike, especially with the hand; cuff.
Archaic.
to bandage.
to patch; mend.
Origin of clout
1Other words from clout
- clout·er, noun
Words Nearby clout
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use clout in a sentence
One thing the data showed was that the league’s low positivity rate wasn’t just accomplished with deep pockets and clout, though it used both of those.
The NFL’s pandemic response was a striking success — and a genuine public service | Sally Jenkins | February 10, 2021 | Washington PostAmazon has repeatedly denied it uses its market clout to compete unfairly.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos‘s successor will inherit his challenges | Jay Greene, Cat Zakrzewski | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostLast summer, Bezos was summoned to Capitol Hill to testify virtually alongside the CEOs of Apple, Google and Facebook before a House antitrust subcommittee investigation on the clout of the tech behemoths.
Jeff Bezos stepping down as Amazon CEO, transitioning to executive chair role | Jay Greene, Tony Romm | February 4, 2021 | Washington PostAs much as I appreciate high-caliber content, I shudder at the prospect of a world where a16z carries more media clout than the Times or the Wall Street Journal.
Tech and crypto funder Andreessen Horowitz wants to replace the media. Is that bad news? | Jeff Roberts | January 20, 2021 | FortuneTuesday’s Georgia runoff elections could hand Democrats an effective majority in the Senate, providing them somewhat more clout to set a health-care agenda.
Pair of Georgia runoff races are razor close with U.S. Senate control at stake | Felicia Sonmez, Colby Itkowitz, John Wagner, Paulina Firozi, Amy B Wang | January 6, 2021 | Washington Post
The great migration to the North through World War II had given black people at least some clout as they began to vote Democratic.
But the two also could abstain from caucusing with either party and possibly have even more clout.
The Independents Who Could Tip the Senate in November | Linda Killian | October 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMilitary victory always gives a field commander added clout with his civilian overseers.
CrowdMed is also a system where Ivy League diplomas and prestigious residencies carry no clout.
Strangers Diagnose Your Illness and Get Cash in Return | Kevin Zawacki | August 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIf my side had had real clout, there would have been no Iraq War.
Awkward: This Democratic Judicial Candidate's Husband Is a White Supremacist | Gideon Resnick | August 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSkelton mentions rochets 'of fyne Raynes'; Colin clout, 316.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey ChaucerJoe thought the fellow was loafing, so he hit him a clout on the head, and made very uncomplimentary remarks.
The Chequers | James RuncimanThe Nubian wore black tights and shirt, black slippers and a white skull cap and breech-clout.
Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays | VariousWhat, he that weares a clout about his necke,His cuffes ins pocket, and his heart ins mouth?
The Fatal Dowry | Philip MassingerThere are instances, however, of clout in the sense of a plate of iron fastened on the sole of a shoe.
Milton's Comus | John Milton
British Dictionary definitions for clout
/ (klaʊt) /
informal a blow with the hand or a hard object
power or influence, esp in politics
archery
the target used in long-distance shooting
the centre of this target
a shot that hits the centre
Also called: clout nail a short, flat-headed nail used esp for attaching sheet metal to wood
British dialect
a piece of cloth: a dish clout
a garment
a patch
informal to give a hard blow to, esp with the hand
to patch with a piece of cloth or leather
Origin of clout
1Derived forms of clout
- clouter, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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