multiple

1 of 2

adjective

mul·​ti·​ple ˈməl-tə-pəl 

1

: consisting of, including, or involving more than one

multiple births

multiple choices

2

: many, manifold

multiple achievements

He suffered multiple injuries in the accident.

3

: shared by many

multiple ownership

4

: having numerous aspects or functions : various

life is very multiple; full of movements, facts, and news

—John Galsworthy

5

: being a group of terminals (see terminal entry 2 sense 3) which make a circuit available at a number of points

6

: formed by coalescence of the ripening ovaries (see ovary sense 2) of several flowers

a multiple fruit

multiple

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: the product of a quantity by an integer

35 is a multiple of 7

b

: something in units of more than one or two

2

: parallel sense 4b

3

chiefly British : chain store

Synonyms

Adjective

• combined
• joint
• collective
• collaborative
• mutual
• communal
• shared

Examples of multiple in a Sentence

Adjective

She made multiple copies of the report.

a person of multiple achievements

He suffered multiple injuries in the accident.

Noun

35 is a multiple of 7.

12 is a multiple of 6.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

YouTube executives took part in multiple panels, and even more discussions at the show revolved around how smaller streamers could leverage YouTube’s reach and audiences to make money on their own premium content. —David Bloom, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

He was charged with multiple felony counts of check fraud last March and missed his court hearing in Butte Superior Court, marking him as a fugitive, authorities said. —Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025

Noun

The high school had back-to-back graduating classes with 10 sets of multiples in 2014 and 2015, and next year’s incoming freshmen class has nine sets of twins, according to school officials. —Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

Porter said that officers attempted to search the home multiple times, but were inhibited by its congested state, CT Insider reported. —Sam Gillette, People.com, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

French, from Latin multiplex, from multi- + -plex -fold — more at -fold

First Known Use

Adjective

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing multiple

• common multiple
• least common multiple
• lowest common multiple
• multiple allele
• multiple birth
• multiple chemical sensitivity
• multiple-choice
• multiple factor
• multiple myeloma
• multiple personality
• multiple personality disorder
• multiple regression
• multiple sclerosis
• multiple star
• multiple store
• multiple-valued

Kids Definition

multiple

1 of 2 adjective

mul·​ti·​ple ˈməl-tə-pəl 

1

: containing, involving, or consisting of more than one

multiple copies

2

: many entry 1 sense 1

a person of multiple achievements

multiple

2 of 2 noun

: the product of a quantity and a whole number

35 is a multiple of 7

Medical Definition

multiple

adjective

mul·​ti·​ple ˈməl-tə-pəl 

1

: consisting of, including, or involving more than one

multiple births

2

: affecting many parts of the body at once