multiple

American  

[muhl-tuh-puhl] / ˈmʌl tə pəl /

adjective

1. consisting of, having, or involving several or many individuals, parts, elements, relations, etc.; manifold.

2. Electricity.

   1. (of circuits) arranged in parallel.

   2. (of a circuit or circuits) having a number of points at which connection can be made.

3. Botany. (of a fruit) collective.

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noun

1. Mathematics. a number that contains another number an integral number of times without a remainder.

   12 is a multiple of 3.

2. Electricity. a group of terminals arranged to make a circuit or group of circuits accessible at a number of points at any one of which connection can be made.

multiple British  

/ ˈmʌltɪpəl /

adjective

1. having or involving more than one part, individual, etc

   he had multiple injuries

2. electronics (of a circuit) having a number of conductors in parallel

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noun

1. the product of a given number or polynomial and any other one

   6 is a multiple of 2

2. telephony an electrical circuit accessible at a number of points to any one of which a connection can be made

3. short for multiple store

multiple Scientific  

/ mŭl′tə-pəl /

1. A number that may be divided by another number with no remainder. For example, 4, 10, and 32 are multiples of 2.

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Other Word Forms

• multiply adverb
• nonmultiple adjective

Etymology

Origin of multiple

First recorded in 1570–80; from French, from Late Latin multiplus “manifold”; multi-

Example Sentences

“All I know is West seems to be the kind of guy playing multiple women at the same time,” Cooke said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

S&P 500’s forward multiple compressed 17%; earnings forecasts improved 3 percentage points, projecting a 19% collective advance.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

We get multiple nondescriptive lists: khakis, leather jackets, flannels, baggy denim, work jeackets, graphic T-shirts, sweaters and rugby tops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

But multiple experts BBC Verify spoke to could not identify the fragments.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Sara struggled when it came to controlling her temper, a diagnosis confirmed by multiple counselors and at least two school psychologists.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Related Words

• different
• numerous
• various