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

Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Carlson — and other right-wing influencers — in recent months who have become disenchanted with the president. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026

Its various hair gadgets (and their premium price tags) have enjoyed viral popularity among beauty influencers, spurring an influx of dupes like the Shark Flexstyle. —Victoria Song, The Verge, 21 Apr. 2026

They were soon joined by influencer and red carpet host Tefi, who joined their table with Saturday Night Live’s Marcello Hernandez. —Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026

And that’s coming from the cofounder of Skims—a brand co-founded by the ultimate influencer, Kim Kardashian. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 21 Apr. 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