Clout
what it means
Clout is attention converted into standing. Having it means people listen; chasing it means doing things purely to get it.
Online influence and visibility, treated as a resource people accumulate.
the origin story
An old English word for influence, revived in hip-hop and internet culture in the late 2010s.
Its revival coincided with the creator economy making attention directly monetisable, which gave it a harder edge than the older sense. "Clout chasing" became the standard accusation against anyone whose behaviour looks calculated for visibility.
in the wild
One post from her and it sold out.
She has serious clout.
He livestreamed the whole argument.
Pure clout.
how to use it
- Describing online influence
- Discussing the creator economy
- Casual conversation
- To dismiss anyone with a platform
- As an accusation without basis
- Professionally without explanation
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
keep scrolling
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