influencer

noun

in·​flu·​enc·​er ˈin-ˌflü-ən(t)-sər 

especially Southern in-ˈflü-

plural influencers

: one who exerts influence : a person who inspires or guides the actions of others

The old theme of laziness and mellowness runs counter to today's influencers, who are businesspeople and upscale inspirational promoters of a go-getter way of life.

—John C. Dvorak

often, specifically : a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media

An influencer can write a holiday recipe, sponsored by a food brand, and that content and the associated brand awareness will still resonate with audiences in a year's time.

—Danielle Wiley

While Linh and other elite influencers are usually personally invited by hotel brands, an onslaught of lesser-known wannabes has left hotels scrambling to deal with a deluge of requests for all-expense-paid vacations in exchange for some social media posts.

—Taylor Lorenz

The woman who's been called the "future of fashion" has advice for aspiring Instagram influencers: Stop with the staged photos posing with croissants or balloons against a beautiful backdrop.

—Alix Langone

Examples of influencer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The family of 31-year-old Ashly Robinson is seeking answers after authorities in Zanzibar announced that the American social media influencer died by suicide at a hotel in Zanzibar, Tanzania. —Deena Zaru, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026

Clavicular was arrested last month on battery charges out of Florida, after a 19-year-old woman accused a 24-year-old woman of battering her in a home that was rented by the influencer. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026

Anzur Ismail said she’s noticed that many newer halal restaurants either struggle to carve out their own identity or quickly fizzle once the initial influencer buzz fades. —Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

On Wednesday the controversial influencer posted a photo of himself on X which appeared to show smears of blood on his face. —K.j. Yossman, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

influencer

noun

in·​flu·​enc·​er

: one who exerts influence : a person who inspires or guides the actions of others