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

… a great novel gives us a very complex, very multiple impression of a portion of life …

—Marjorie Boulton

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 of multiple

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

Gonzales was struggling to hold his 23rd District even before the scandal, barely beating 2nd Amendment activist and content creator Brandon Herrera in 2024; Herrera is running again, along with Quico Canseco, a one-term congressman who’s made multiple comeback attempts. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026

That larger halo could bring multiple globular clusters together, but could also not necessarily contain other reservoirs of gas or normal matter, being instead overwhelmingly dominated by dark matter. —Big Think, 3 Mar. 2026

Noun

Not rapid enough to impact the sales of the company, just the multiple of the stock. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026

Aedes aegypti zero in on humans and tend to poke multiples times before taking blood. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026

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