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

Derived Forms

• multiply
  adverb
• nonmultiple
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of multiple

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

Explanation

When you're talking about more than one, you're talking about multiple things. A machine with many fixtures has multiple parts. A person that seems like two totally different people on different days might have multiple personalities. The word multiple comes from the Latin multiplus meaning "manifold." When something exists in multiple forms, it's manifold, or has many kinds. Think of a multiplex theater that can show multiple movies at once. Walk through a garden full of flowers and you'll see multiple kinds of blooms. A multiple is also a number that can be divided into another number without a remainder. Multiples of five, for example are ten, fifteen, twenty... — you get the picture.

Example Sentences

After Epshteyn put in a good word for him, Trump’s team brought Blanche on to fight multiple prosecutions spanning from New York to Florida during the interregnum.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Chronically high IL-6 levels have also been linked to recurrence and metastasis of multiple types of cancer.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026

There are multiple reasons for the repricing of Fed expectations: the uptick in inflation readings, the strengthening jobs-market data and hawkish actions by the central bank.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026

Atoms, light, and even motion can be placed into multiple quantum states at once.

From Science Daily • Jun. 15, 2026

Older children appreciate and are capable of singing complex songs, particularly those that include multiple parts and simple harmony.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• different
• numerous
• various