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

While inside, well-heeled women in designer dresses chat over cocktails, A-list influencers snap photos at the iconic afternoon tea, and sophisticated couples sunbathe by the pool. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

Both understand the power of bite-sized content, with TMZ pioneering the short-form blog post to break news, and influencers using their own authentic voice to gain audience trust. —Angelica Kalika, The Conversation, 2 June 2026

Wellness influencers are touting bovine colostrum, which is the first milk cows make after giving birth, as a must-have supplement for supporting gut health. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 2 June 2026

Ayers is a model and an influencer and made her debut in the White Fox Boutique swim show, named La Tropica, at the Setai. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 2 June 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