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• multi
  multi

  noun

  a pattern of several colors or hues, usually in stripes.
• multi-
  multi-

  a combining form meaning “many,” “much,” “multiple,” “many times,” “more than one,” “more than two,” “composed of many like parts,” “in many respects,” used in the formation of compound words.
• multi–
  multi–

  A prefix that means “many” or “much,” as in multicellular, having many cells.

multi

¹ American  

[muhl-tee, -tahy] / ˈmʌl ti, -taɪ /

noun

• multis
  plural

1. a pattern of several colors or hues, usually in stripes.

   This dress comes in pink or green multi.

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adjective

1. multicolored.

multi- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “many,” “much,” “multiple,” “many times,” “more than one,” “more than two,” “composed of many like parts,” “in many respects,” used in the formation of compound words.

   multiply; multivitamin.

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multi- British  

combining form

1. many or much

   multiflorous

   multimillion

2. more than one

   multiparous

   multistorey

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multi– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means “many” or “much,” as in multicellular, having many cells.

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Usage

What does multi- mean? Multi- is a combining form used like a prefix with a variety of meanings, including “many; much; multiple.” It is often used in scientific and technical terms. Multi- comes from Latin multus, meaning “much” and “many.” The Greek equivalent of multus is polýs, also meaning both “much” and “many,” which is the source of the combining form poly-. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article about poly-. What are variants of multi-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, multi- becomes mult-, as in multangular, from Latin multangulus. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about mult-.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• multis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of multi¹

By shortening of multicolor or multicolored

Origin of multi-²

Middle English < Latin, combining form of multus much, many

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

multi multi- multis

The festival's other site in Leeds, meanwhile, closes after performances from singer-songwriter Raye and multi award-winning rapper Dave on Sunday night.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Cavanagh said he wanted to look at extreme power and wealth in America the influence of multi billionaires.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

A research team in Japan has successfully recreated key human neural circuits in the laboratory using tiny, multi region brain models called assembloids.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 7, 2026

The machines are “a deliberate choice by a multi billion dollar corporation that absolutely knew what it was doing and chose to weaponize sound literally,” said Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the city’s first district.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025

But I'm getting rid of the multi, Mr. Blaine.

From The Nine-Tenths by James Oppenheim

“In an eventual post-crisis world, a multi- polar environment lends itself to a much more gold-positive one. Additionally, many of the undercurrents that drove gold prices higher remain intact, albeit on pause,” he added.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

Mid-cap funds also received $153 million, but multi- and small-cap funds saw net selling worth $1.53 billion and $405 million, respectively.

From Reuters ● Sep. 15, 2023

“Today, we’re living in a multi- and trans-disciplinary universe made up of connecting links, so the old labels don’t really make sense anymore,” she added.

From New York Times ● Jan. 28, 2022

The celebrations typically conclude with a multi- or single-day lantern festival.

From Fox News ● Jan. 27, 2022

Poly-, in compound words of Greek origin, same as multi- in those of Latin origin viz. many, as Polyadelphous, stamens united by their filaments into several bundles, 100.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Asa Gray

I advise avoiding gummy multivitamin/mineral supplements, as they contain fewer nutrients and degrade much faster than “regular” multis.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 14, 2022

Socrates, Homer, Ovid, Horace, Plautus, Terence, Shakspeare, Watt, Sir Isaac Newton, cum multis aliis! their names are remembered, and their fame is to the end of the world!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, November 4th 1893 by Various

Alas! in regard to this, as well as to many a weightier matter, one may too truly affirm, Multa non sunt sicut multis videntur—Many things are not as they seem to many.

From The Grammar of English Grammars by Goold Brown

Cicero expresses himself plainly on this subject: “Qui multa voluerit meminisse, multa sibi loca comparet: oportet multos comparare locos, ut in multis locis multas imagines collocemus.”

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by J. G. (John Gideon) Millingen

The passage quoted from Bishop Bull is very plausible and very eloquent; but only cum multis granis salis sumend.

From Coleridge's Literary Remains, Volume 4. by Samuel Taylor Coleridge