noun
Uncommon
multiplier
MUL-tih-ply-er
Multiplier (noun) means a person or thing that increases something or causes it to grow. Example: “Good word of mouth acted as a multiplier for the small firm's sales.”
noun
1
A person or thing that increases something or causes it to grow.
"Good word of mouth acted as a multiplier for the small firm's sales."
"Volunteers were the real multiplier behind the charity's reach."
2
In arithmetic, the number by which another number is multiplied.
"In three times four, three is the multiplier."
"Pupils learned to identify the multiplier in each sum."
3
In economics, a ratio used to estimate the overall effect of a change in spending or investment on the wider economy.
"Economists calculated the multiplier for the new infrastructure spending."
"A higher multiplier means each pound spent has a bigger knock-on effect."
How to use multiplier
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA multiplier is whatever multiplies or increases something else.
When to use it
It is a neutral word used equally in everyday, mathematical and economic contexts.
Memory tip
Stress falls on the first syllable, MUL, not on the middle of the word.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
an economic multiplier
a multiplier effect
act as a multiplier
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Good word of mouth acted as a _____ for the small firm's sales.
Etymology
The word is formed from the verb multiply with the agent suffix -er, giving a term for something that multiplies or increases something else.
Rhymes for multiplier
See all rhymes for multiplier →Frequently asked questions
What does multiplier mean in maths?
In arithmetic it is the number by which another number, the multiplicand, is multiplied.
What is an economic multiplier?
It is a ratio economists use to estimate the total effect that a piece of economic activity, such as spending, has on the wider economy.
Can multiplier describe a person?
Yes, it can describe someone or something that causes an increase in something else, not just a number.
What is the meaning of multiplier?
"multiplier" (noun) means a person or thing that increases something or causes it to grow.
