What does shoutout mean?
A shoutout is a public acknowledgment of someone, commonly used to praise their work, recognize an achievement, or draw attention to their contribution. The phrase "give a shoutout" is especially common in workplaces, schools, community organizations, and social-media posts. A shoutout may come from an individual or an institution, and it often functions as a brief gesture of appreciation rather than a formal award. In another use, a shoutout can refer to a prominent statement intended to publicize a person or issue. The word is informal in tone and often carries a friendly, celebratory, or promotional nuance. Although closely associated with North American English, it is now also used in British English and other English-speaking communities. Its compact combination of "shout" and "out" conveys both energetic emphasis and the idea of speaking publicly.
nounA public mention or acknowledgment of someone, especially one intended to praise or celebrate their achievement. It can also refer to a prominent statement made to draw attention to a person, cause, or issue.
- A public acknowledgment, especially one praising or celebrating someone or highlighting their achievement.
- A prominent statement or attention-grabbing mention intended to bring a person, cause, or issue to public notice.
"The team's victory earned a shoutout from the mayor."
"She received a shoutout for organizing the charity drive."
"The mayor gave local businesses a shoutout during the ceremony."
The usual plural adds "-s"; "shout-outs" is a common alternative spelling in both singular and plural forms.
"The article included shoutouts for several community volunteers."
A shoutout turns a brief public mention into a modern signal of appreciation, recognition, and social visibility.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shoutout come from?
Shoutout is a modern compound formed from "shout" and the particle-like element "out," combining the idea of emphatic public expression with that of bringing something to wider attention. It belongs to a family of informal twentieth-century English formations in which "out" contributes a sense of disclosure or publicity. The closely related spelling "shout-out" has also become established, especially in the expression "give a shout-out."
Related word forms
How shoutout is actually used
This is an informal term, especially common in North American English and in workplace, educational, and social-media settings. It can sound genuinely appreciative, but depending on context it may also have a promotional or publicity-oriented tone. The expression "give a shoutout to someone" is widely established.
Easily confused with shoutout
Both terms mean a public acknowledgment or expression of praise, but "shoutout" is the closed compound most often used as a noun in informal English.