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.
Leaf through a textbook, watch a wellness influencer or listen in at the gym, and it can feel as though the human body has already been mapped to exhaustion.
From Science Daily • Jun. 21, 2026
The company has found that a relatively small number of highly active accounts, influencer communities and alternative media networks generate and amplify a disproportionate share of the anti-immigrant content.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
In the run-up to the 2016 election, Charlamagne emerged as a political influencer, interviewing Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026
Harry Sawtell – a beauty influencer who has more than 100,000 followers on his social media accounts – knows first-hand how cruel social media can be.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
As an influencer of legislatures, he stands easily first in ability and achievement.
From The Boss and the Machine; a chronicle of the politicians and party organization by Orth, Samuel Peter
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.
