influencer

[ in-floo-uhn-ser ]

noun

1. a person or thing that influences:

   The most powerful influencer of beliefs is direct experience.

2. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of influencer¹

First recorded in 1660–70; influence ( def ) + -er ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Scherzinger’s reincarnated Norma Desmond, strutting around the stage with the swagger of an Instagram influencer, must be ready at a moment’s notice for her selfie.

From Los Angeles Times

He quoted the right-wing influencer known as DC Draino, who pointed out that Trump would have been stymied by Democrats in Congress had he won in 2020.

From Slate

And you don't have to be a mass-market influencer to have success.

From Salon

Emerald Robinson, a former reporter with right-wing TV networks and a pro-Trump influencer with more than 750,000 followers on X, insisted that Democrats were “cheating right now” and posted: “I always told people the voting machines were rigged!”

From BBC

Influencer Haliey Welch has also leveraged her overnight-celebrity status and her top five podcast to advocate for the use of memecoins for good.

From Salon

Related Words

• bellwether
• tastemaker