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

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

But the Krans aesthetic is unique for its rebellion against the typical perky, pastel look often used on yoga mats and reusable water bottles — even though her work can be spotted on the shelves and shrines of influencers across the wellness industry. —Simone Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

Read more: How Anna Wintour Wields Her Power In recent years, the attendance of social media influencers like Liza Koshy, Addison Rae and James Charles has sparked criticism, given how exclusive invitations to the gala have been even for more traditional celebrities. —Cady Lang, TIME, 2 May 2024

Digital Brand Architects will continue to be a leading partner in content strategy and influencer engagement. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 2 May 2024

Clips of robots running faster than Usain Bolt and dancing in sync, among many others, have helped the company reach true influencer status. —Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 1 May 2024

Their work has been amplified by a number of prominent anti-immigration voices online, including Michael Yon, a former Green Beret who leads tours for right-wing influencers, including Anthony Rubin, to the Darién Gap, a crowded migrant crossing in Panama. —Ken Bensinger, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2024

The Dallas Mavericks point guard was first linked to Wilkerson, a social media influencer, in 2018 after they were reportedly spotted together at Irving’s youth basketball tournament. —Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024

While the guest list for the gala is kept secret until the night of, the influencer and reality TV star has attended each of the past 10 Met Galas since 2013, mostly with her ex-husband Kanye West. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

Some of the biggest influencers say Amazon pays them more than $10,000 monthly in commissions. —Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above