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noun Uncommon

plethora

PLEH-thuh-ruh

Plethora (noun) means an overwhelming or excessive amount of something. Example: “The menu offers a plethora of vegetarian options.”

noun
1
An overwhelming or excessive amount of something.
"The menu offers a plethora of vegetarian options."
"She had a plethora of excuses for being late."

How to use plethora

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWay more than you need — an abundance, often to the point of being too much.

Common mistake

Always used with "of" — "a plethora of things," never just "plethora things."

Common pairings
a plethora of options a plethora of choices

Word forms

plethorae plural, plethoras plural

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Fill the gap

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The menu offers a _____ of vegetarian options.

Etymology

From Greek plēthōra ("fullness, satiety"), from plēthō ("to be full").

Origin: Greek

Related words

Rhymes for plethora

See all rhymes for plethora →

Frequently asked questions

What does “plethora” mean?

The word “plethora” means an overwhelming or excessive amount of something. In plain terms, way more than you need — an abundance, often to the point of being too much.

How do you pronounce “plethora”?

“Plethora” is pronounced PLEH-thuh-ruh (/ˈplɛθəɹə/ in IPA).

How do you use “plethora” in a sentence?

Here is “plethora” used in a sentence: “The menu offers a plethora of vegetarian options.”

What part of speech is “plethora”?

“Plethora” is a noun.

Where does the word “plethora” come from?

The word “plethora” comes from Greek. From Greek plēthōra ("fullness, satiety"), from plēthō ("to be full").

Is “plethora” a common word?

“Plethora” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial