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

Skeptical journalists, excitable influencers, and industry insiders alike all climbed aboard an open-top bus for a sightseeing tour of London that culminated at a cramped and stifling-hot theater. —Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 7 Dec. 2025

Their feeds are flooded with highlight reels of fancy dinners, endless clothing hauls, and nonstop adventures posted by friends and influencers. —Annabelle Canela, Parents, 7 Dec. 2025

The former hostage was addressing a group of over 1,000 Christian pastors, youth leaders, educators and social media influencers attending a week-long summit in Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post. —Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 2025

Soon Bolton was being praised in TikTok videos posted by influencers like @marriedtoalunatic and @globalmindapparel. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Dec. 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