Meaning & use
clout
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Meanings
noununcountable
The power to influence people, decisions, or events, especially because of your position, money, or fame.
Grammar: Used without a/an and not usually plural: have clout, not have a clout.
Patterns
- have clout
- political/financial clout
- clout with someone
- use your clout
The mayor has enough clout to get the new library approved.
She built her clout in the tech industry over twenty years.
The union still has real clout with local politicians.
nouncountableinformalBritish
A hard hit with the hand or a heavy object.
Grammar: Usually singular and used in informal descriptions of hitting: a clout on the head.
Patterns
- a clout on the head
- give someone a clout
- get a clout
He got a clout on the ear for answering back.
She threatened to give him a clout if he didn't stop.
The boxer took a heavy clout to the jaw.
verbtransitiveinformal
To hit someone or something hard.
Grammar: Takes an object: clout the ball, clout someone on the head.
Patterns
- clout someone on something
- clout something
He clouted the ball over the fence.
She clouted him on the arm in annoyance.
The branch clouted me across the face as I walked past.
Common combinations
- political clout
- The party lost much of its political clout after the scandal.
- financial clout
- Small shops can't compete with the financial clout of big chains.
- clout with voters
- His name still carries clout with older voters.
- throw your clout around
- He likes to throw his clout around at meetings.
Synonyms and how they differ
- influence
- Neutral and more formal; it covers any effect on people or events, while clout suggests stronger, more usable power.
- power
- Broader and stronger; clout is about being able to sway decisions rather than control everything.
- pull
- Very informal and often about using personal contacts; clout is wider and can come from money or fame too.
- sway
- More literary and means influence over opinions; clout is more everyday and practical.
Opposites
Commonly confused: clout or clot? clout or cloud?
clout vs clot
A clot is a lump of blood or other thick liquid; clout is influence or a hit.
clout vs cloud
A cloud is in the sky; clout sounds similar but means power or a blow.
Practice
The senator still has a lot of ______ in the Senate, so other members listen when she speaks.
Choose one answer.
Clout is uncountable here, so 'a lot of clout' is correct. 'Clouts' would wrongly suggest countable hits, and 'clouting' is a verb form that doesn't fit after 'a lot of'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “clout”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.