clout
/klout/noun
Meaning
In internet slang, clout means the fame, attention, popularity, or social influence a person has—especially when their posts, opinions, or endorsement carry weight. It can describe genuine reach or status, but it is also commonly used for attention gained through controversy, virality, or obvious self-promotion.
- 1. Online fame or popularity measured through attention, followers, views, likes, or cultural visibility.
- 2. Influence or social power that makes someone's opinion, endorsement, or presence matter in a particular community.
- 3. Notoriety or attention earned through a provocative post, public stunt, controversy, or other attempt to go viral.
- 4. The perceived status or social currency someone gains from being connected to a famous person, trend, group, or scene.
Examples
“She got serious clout after that remix went viral.”
“He only posted the argument for clout.”
“That creator has enough clout to move a whole trend.”
“Nobody believes the apology—it feels like a clout chase.”
“Getting reposted by that account gave me instant clout.”
Origin and spread
Clout is much older than its internet use. The English word comes from Old English clūt, originally referring to a lump or patch of cloth; the meaning “blow” developed by the early 14th century. The American sense meaning personal influence is documented by 1946 and developed from the idea of force or punch. Social-media usage is a later extension of that influence sense: by February 2012, published writing was already using “online clout” for visibility and popularity on Facebook. In the late 2010s and 2020s, terms such as clout chasing helped make the word especially common in online talk.[1][2]
How to use it
Clout is informal and often carries a skeptical or teasing edge when it refers to attention-seeking. Saying someone has clout can be complimentary or neutral, while saying they are chasing clout usually implies that their behavior is performative, opportunistic, or exaggerated. The word can still refer to ordinary influence in politics, business, entertainment, or other offline settings.
Sources
- 1. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary — clout nounSupports: origin.
- 2. Online Etymology Dictionary — Clout: Etymology, Origin & MeaningSupports: origin, form.
