influencer
Americannoun
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a person or thing that influences.
The most powerful influencer of beliefs is direct experience.
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a person who has the power to influence many people, as through social media or traditional media.
Companies look for Facebook influencers who can promote their brand.
Etymology
Origin of influencer
First recorded in 1660–70; influence ( def. ) + -er 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Someone who uses their online reputation to prompt people to buy things is an influencer. Don't spend all your money on an expensive sweater just because it looked great on an influencer! Influencers are online celebrities, most of whom found their fame on social media platforms. The most popular influencers hold a lot of clout, whether they're publicizing a lifestyle, demonstrating a gadget, or modeling clothing. These internet stars can make a lot of money promoting products for big companies by using their influence over their followers. In addition to this recent definition of influencer, you can also use it for anyone who holds sway over other people's opinions or actions.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The feud between influencer Alix Earle and podcaster Alex Cooper is heating up.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Goad’s influencer campaign to promote squishy toys helped Claire’s sell out of a brand called NeeDoh.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
These included the Colombian-American anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez, while Polish MEP Dominik Tarczynski and Ezra Levant, a longtime Canadian supporter of Robinson, also said they had been blocked.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
He is also a social media influencer with 2.1 million TikTok followers and hasn’t been shy about using the platform to campaign for his dream gig.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Costa was not unlikely the real founder, or, at the least, the strongest influencer of the Bolognese school.
From A Text-Book of the History of Painting by Van Dyke, John Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
