callout
/KAWL-out/noun
Meaning
An informal public criticism aimed at drawing attention to something objectionable that a person, brand, or organization has said or done. A callout may include evidence, screenshots, or a demand for accountability, especially when posted on social media.[1][2]
- 1. A public criticism of someone’s words or actions, especially when the criticism is shared online.
- 2. A post, thread, video, or message that exposes alleged wrongdoing or problematic behavior.
- 3. A direct challenge that forces someone to explain, acknowledge, or defend what they did.
Examples
“That apology feels fake, so here’s the full callout.”
“The callout included screenshots from the group chat.”
“I made one callout and suddenly everyone had receipts.”
“This isn't a random drag; it's a callout about repeated behavior.”
“The brand deleted the post after the callout went viral.”
Origin and spread
Callout is the noun form of the phrasal verb call someone out, which developed the sense of publicly criticizing or challenging a person. The verb is older and has other meanings, including shouting and summoning, while the public-criticism sense became especially prominent in North American English and online activism. The modern internet sense was circulating by the 2010s, when social media made it easy to attach evidence to a criticism and distribute it widely. The broader phrase callout culture is associated with public accountability, but it can also shade into public shaming or harassment. Merriam-Webster records an older general noun callout from 1882, but that date does not establish the first use of the modern criticism sense.[2]
How to use it
Callout is usually informal and can sound approving, neutral, or critical depending on context. Supporters may use it for public accountability; critics may use it to suggest dogpiling, humiliation, or performative outrage. Do not treat callout as automatically meaning that an accusation is true. In the verb phrase, write call someone out or call someone out on something; the noun is commonly written callout or call-out.
Sources
- 1. Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries — call out phrasal verbSupports: meaning, form.
- 2. WIRED — The Case for Viral ‘Callout’ CultureSupports: meaning, origin.
- 3. PubMed — ‘Calling-out’ vs. ‘Calling-in’ Prejudice
