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

Headley’s prediction is that BookTok creators will become more directly involved in the publishing process, mostly by the development of BookTok first imprints with reads chosen directly for publication by influencers. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2025

Or for the many brands that host influencer dinners, might a junk journaling session pair well with dessert? —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025

In early 2025, influencer Valerie Stemper shared a short Instagram reel offering a quick hack every international traveler should know. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025

Today, with more than 200 videos and counting, Dodson is among a small cohort of social media influencers who’ve managed to attract millions of followers by recreating recipes from the past. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 20 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