noun
clout
klowt
noun
1
Influence or power, especially in politics or business.
"As a major donor, she carries a lot of clout with the party leadership."
"His years in the industry gave him serious clout when negotiating deals."
2
A blow struck with the hand or fist (informal).
"He gave the vending machine a clout when it swallowed his coins."
verb
1
To hit someone or something, especially with the fist.
"She clouted him playfully on the arm for the bad joke."
How to Use Clout
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishReal-world influence or power — or, in its older sense, a solid hit or whack.
When to use it
The "hit" sense is informal/dated; the "influence" sense is the one most common in modern usage, especially in politics and media.
Common pairings
political clout
carry clout
have clout
Word Forms
clouted past tense, clouts plural, clouts singular
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As a major donor, she carries a lot of _____ with the party leadership.
Etymology
From Old English clūt, originally "a piece of cloth" or "metal plate" — the "influence" sense developed much later, notably in Chicago political slang, before spreading more widely.