clout

Clout refers to influence, power, or social and political pull that enables a person or group to affect decisions, outcomes, or opinions. It can derive from formal authority, wealth, reputation, or access to networks, and is often described in terms of how much sway someone holds within a community, organization, or public sphere.

Etymology: The word clout originates in Middle English from a sense related to a thick piece of fabric or a patch, and also a blow or strike. The figurative sense of influence developed over time, so that "having clout" came to mean having power or leverage with others, including policymakers, institutions, or media.

In modern usage, clout is commonly discussed in relation to social media and digital platforms. It may denote status linked to follower counts, engagement, or verification, and phrases like "clout chasing" describe actions aimed at increasing influence, sometimes regardless of substantive goals. The term is typically used descriptively rather than prescriptively, and can carry positive or negative connotations depending on context.

Measurement and critique: There is no formal metric for clout; estimates rely on proxies such as audience size, engagement rates, reach, or access to influential networks. Critics warn that clout-based dynamics can privilege performative visibility over substance, contribute to inequality in influence, and incentivize inauthentic behavior or manipulation within media, politics, and business.