multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈpli-sə-tē 

plural multiplicities

1

a

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

b

: the number of components in a system (such as a multiplet or a group of energy levels)

2

: a great number

3

: the number of times a root of an equation or zero of a function occurs when there is more than one root or zero

the multiplicity of x = 2 for the equation (x − 2)³ = 0 is 3

Synonyms

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• profusion
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Examples of multiplicity in a Sentence

a multiplicity of suggestions for turning the company around

Shakespeare's works seem to encompass the full multiplicity of human experience.

Recent Examples on the Web

Statistics show that about half of all stars are—unlike our sun—in multiple systems, so studying planetary formation in these Tatooine-like environments will yield a lot of interesting data on how stellar multiplicity affects the planets around those stars. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 15 Mar. 2024

Meanwhile, the hard-right bulldozer rolls on, happy to welcome aboard a multiplicity of fears and hatreds. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2024

The focus is clearly on the future: how can Bush School students make a difference in a world where power centers are changing, technology is rapidly altering how ideas are transmitted, and the once bipolar international arena has been replaced by a multiplicity of threats? —Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2023

One of Kriss’s patients, a student who went by Haku, developed a multiplicity of selves after being introduced to the concept of dissociative identity disorder. —Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French multiplicité, from Late Latin multiplicitat-, multiplicitas, from Latin multiplic-, multiplex

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈplis-ət-ē 

plural multiplicities

1

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

2

: a great number

Medical Definition

multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈplis-ət-ē 

plural multiplicities

1

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

2

: the ratio of the number of infectious particles (as of a bacteriophage) to the number of cells at risk

monolayer cultures … were infected at an effective multiplicity of approximately 100

—J. J. Holland

Legal Definition

multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈpli-sə-tē 

plural multiplicities

1

a

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

b

: the charging of a single criminal act or offense as multiple separate charges or counts of an indictment or information

multiplicity does not require dismissal of the indictment

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

compare duplicity sense 2, misjoinder

Note: Multiplicity raises the risk of violating the double jeopardy protection against receiving multiple sentences for a single offense. Multiplicity is a defect that can be corrected without dismissal of the case.

2

: a great number

joinder is allowed to avoid a multiplicity of actions