An outcry is a loud, sudden expression of strong emotion, especially anger, protest, or alarm. When something seems wrong or unfair, people might raise an outcry to make their feelings heard. If a principal suddenly announced that recess was cancelled forever, you'd probably hear an immediate outcry from students throughout the school.

The word suggests more than one person complaining quietly. An outcry is public, passionate, and impossible to ignore. When a company releases a product that doesn't work as promised, customers might create an outcry on social media. When a town council proposes tearing down a beloved park, residents might raise an outcry at community meetings.

Historically, outcries have changed policies and corrected injustices. When enough people voice their concerns together, leaders often listen. An outcry can be a shout of protest at something happening right now, or it can build gradually as more people learn about a problem and join their voices.

The word can also mean a single loud shout or cry, like an outcry of pain or surprise, though this usage is less common today.