Words / B2

KLAM-uh/ˈklæmə/

Clamour is a loud confused noise of people, or a noisy public demand (British -our); as a verb, to demand that way: a clamour for; clamour to be heard. Noise is everyday; outcry is a close twin. A clamour for a recount still needs a named petition. Mix-up: clamber (climb awkwardly); glamour. US: clamor. Do not write clamour for a polite written request.

Meaning

A loud confused noise of people, or a noisy public demand (British spelling); as a verb, to demand that way.

Examples

• “A clamour for a recount still needs a named petition, the source said.”
• “The clamour in the hall was not a sampling frame, which is the loud-noise sense.”

Good to know

a clamour for; clamour to + verb. Close: outcry. US: clamor. Trap: clamber / glamour. News, citizenship, and literature. Loud noise or a noisy demand (UK -our).

Near in meaning

outcry

New