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

Yet despite this multiplicity, the nature of its new medium means that an inherently ambiguous character must be fixed to a specific performance, going from passive observer to active presence. —Alison Herman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

Designers love these swatches and the multiplicity of weaves to choose from. —Rachel Dickinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Mar. 2024

Magid suspected that filming the role-play would be challenging—with a multiplicity of narratives and durations of up to 12 hours—and wanted to focus on what that meant to the protagonists, personally. —Savina Petkova, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024

The film is nostalgic and analytical of urban life’s multiplicity and its unavoidable anonymity. —Armond White, National Review, 6 Mar. 2024

The multiplicity of programs to deal with homelessness cries out for some kind of independent appraisal of what’s been spent and how effective the spending has been. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024

Weaver comes from a Baltimore Ravens defense whose defining trait was its multiplicity. —Daniel Oyefusi, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2024

In Shostakovich’s case, this multiplicity was protective. —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024

Peele’s foreword highlights the multiplicity of the tales that follow. —Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 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