call·out
ˈkȯl-ˌau̇t 
1
: the act or an instance of calling out
2
: an often bordered inset in a printed article or illustration that usually includes a key excerpt or detail
called out; calling out; calls out
1
: to summon into action
call out troops
2
: to challenge to a duel
3
: to order on strike
call out the workers
4
: to publicly criticize or fault (someone)
The FDA will have to start forcing companies to be transparent and call them out on it when they're not.—
Massimo Calabresi et al.
Massimo Calabresi et al.Examples of callout in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Picking the winners Elevate Miami Impact Fellows from Miami Dade College helped evaluate finalists and select the winners after nominees were sought through a public callout on social media that generated nearly 2,500 responses.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Some have called out their former, older partners after feeling taken advantage of.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for callout
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Noun
Because of that, police said a callout for additional resources was made, and additional law enforcement, including a SWAT team, responded to the scene.
—Nikiya Carrero, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Picking the winners Elevate Miami Impact Fellows from Miami Dade College helped evaluate finalists and select the winners after nominees were sought through a public callout on social media that generated nearly 2,500 responses.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 20 Nov. 2025
Verb
The politician regularly calls out the Jimmy Kimmel Live star.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Some have called out their former, older partners after feeling taken advantage of.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for callout
Cite this Entry
“Callout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/callout. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
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