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

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

Shay Riggin, a witch and influencer, advises people to rest and ground themselves during the eclipse and avoid being underneath the moon, according to a video posted on her Instagram. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025

But the demand for transparency in the Epstein case has taken on a life of its own, driven by the voices of survivors, social media influencers, federal lawmakers from both parties and the public. —Julie K. Brown Miami Herald, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025

At the Australian Open, Broomfield, now an influencer and model, posted a video, venting her frustrations. —Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

And to me, that was the food influencer girls. —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025

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