multitude

[ muhl-ti-tood, -tyood ]

noun

1. a great number; host:

   a multitude of friends.

2. a great number of people gathered together; crowd; throng.

   Synonyms: mass

3. the state or character of being many; numerousness.
4. the multitude, the common people; the masses.

multitude

/ ˈmʌltɪˌtjuːd /

noun

1. a large gathering of people
2. the multitude
   the common people
3. a large number
4. the state or quality of being numerous

Word History and Origins

Origin of multitude¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English word from Latin word multitūdō. See multi-, -tude

Word History and Origins

Origin of multitude¹

C14: via Old French from Latin multitūdō

Synonym Study

See crowd ¹.

Example Sentences

“So there are some prospects that we could have a team — Kobe and Lazar are seniors and one or two guys could make the NBA — but if we could have a multitude of guys back that would be great, that would be awesome for a lot of reasons — less craziness for me in the spring with some continuity for 2025-26, but you just don’t know.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump has specifically said he would not support a national abortion ban “under any circumstances,” but that leaves open a multitude of ways he could achieve that goal by another name, whether by applying an ancient federal law to constrain the shipment of abortion pills, installing reproductive rights opponents at federal healthcare agencies as he did in his first term, or some other means.

From Los Angeles Times

"We can provide valuable habitats for a multitude of species, including birds of prey, so I think we actually have a very good track record in what we can deliver for nature conservation, and to address our declines in species."

From BBC

She said that “while interstate transportation of animals may contribute to disease transmission, this virus is spread through a multitude of paths, not all of which are understood.”

From Los Angeles Times

They include a multitude of threats, from cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content to the perils of online predators.

From Salon

Related Words

• horde
• legion
• myriad
• slew
• throng