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

But as Substack has grown, the company has increasingly attempted to court video creators, influencers, and podcasters, casting itself more as a payment platform and fan hub. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 17 Nov. 2025

YouTube personality and influencer, Jack Doherty, known for his controversial, prank-style video content, has been arrested by Miami Beach Police for drug possession and other charges after he was caught dangerously blocking traffic while trying to film his latest social media video. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

The effort to repeal the 19th Amendment also comes amid virulent sexism from conservative influencer Nick Fuentes, who blamed women for low birth rates in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in late October. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 15 Nov. 2025

Fuentes, a white-nationalist influencer, appeared on The Tucker Carlson Show in October, which has enraged a number of prominent figures on the right and set off a spiraling conversation about where to draw the line on whom the party welcomes into its mainstream. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 15 Nov. 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