What does multitude mean?
Multitude is a formal noun meaning a very large number of people or things. Its most familiar use is in the construction “a multitude of,” where it introduces an abundant collection of people, opportunities, reasons, problems, or similar items: “The proposal met with a multitude of objections.” Because the expression treats the collection as a unit, the noun following “of” is normally singular. Multitude can also stand on its own or appear as “the multitude” when referring to people generally, especially when emphasizing the scale of a crowd or the wider population. The word often conveys grandeur, abundance, and a degree of formality, making it useful in descriptive writing, historical prose, and elevated rhetoric. While everyday conversation may favor simpler alternatives such as “many” or “a lot of,” multitude gives these ideas a more expansive and emphatic tone.
nounA large number of people or things considered collectively. It can also refer to a great quantity or abundance of something, especially when used in the expression “a multitude of.”
- A large number of people considered collectively, especially an unspecified or sizable crowd.
- A very large quantity or abundance of people, things, reasons, or abstract qualities.
"The exhibition attracted a multitude of visitors from across the country."
"She had a multitude of questions to ask before the interview began."
"The old town welcomes a steady multitude of tourists in the summer."
The plural is grammatical but less common than the singular construction “a multitude of.” It often emphasizes exceptionally large numbers or separate collections.
"Multitudes of travelers arrived to witness the event."
Sometimes one word is all a crowd needs: “multitude” gathers a vast number of people or things into a single, memorable term.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of multitude
The word entered English from Latin, where multitudo meant “a great number” or “multitude.” Latin multitudo was derived from multus, meaning “many,” the same root that also underlies multiple and multiply. The word developed in English with senses referring both to large numbers of people and to abundance generally, and its modern use preserves that combination of collective quantity and grandeur.
Related word forms
How multitude is actually used
Generally formal or literary in tone, though it is fully standard English. “A multitude of” is especially common and is followed by a singular noun, as in “a multitude of opportunities.” The plural “multitudes” is less frequent and can suggest very large numbers or separate groups.