A loud shout or cry, or strong public protest or objection against something people find wrong or unfair.
Compound of 'out' (from Old English 'ut,' outside) and 'cry' (from Old French 'crier,' to shout). Used literally for loud shouts since Middle English, but by the 17th century meant public protest or vocal opposition to government actions.
An 'outcry' requires people to literally cry out—to make noise, to be heard. It's why the word is associated with justice movements: you can't have an outcry in silence. The word itself contains the sound it describes.
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