multiplier: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “multiplier” mean?
A number or factor by which another number or quantity is multiplied.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A number or factor by which another number or quantity is multiplied.
A person, thing, or force that increases or amplifies something, often used in economics for a factor measuring the effect of investment on income, or in electronics for a device that increases an input signal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK financial journalism regarding 'fiscal multiplier'. In US contexts, 'multiplier effect' is equally prevalent.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties within technical, economic, and mathematical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “multiplier” in a Sentence
multiplier of [number]multiplier for [effect/phenomenon]act as a multiplierserve as a multiplierVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “multiplier” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The policy aims to multiply the benefits across sectors.
- Our efforts need to multiply to meet the target.
American English
- The initiative will multiply opportunities in the region.
- We have to multiply our outreach to be effective.
adverb
British English
- The investment performed multiplicatively better than expected.
- Costs rose multiplicatively across the supply chain.
American English
- The benefits spread multiplicatively through the network.
- The effect was felt multiplicatively in related industries.
adjective
British English
- The multiplier coefficient was carefully calculated.
- They studied the multiplier impact of tourism.
American English
- The multiplier analysis showed promising results.
- He explained the multiplier function in the model.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new investment had a multiplier effect throughout the local economy, creating secondary jobs.
Academic
The study applied a Lagrange multiplier to solve the constrained optimization problem.
Everyday
Social media can be a multiplier of both good and bad information.
Technical
The circuit uses a frequency multiplier to generate the required GHz signal.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “multiplier”
- Using 'multiplier' as a verb (the verb is 'multiply'). Incorrectly saying 'multiplier of two' when meaning 'multiplied by two'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In multiplication (A x B = C), A is the multiplicand (number to be multiplied) and B is the multiplier (number by which it is multiplied). However, due to the commutative property, this distinction is often not emphasized.
Yes, very commonly. It frequently describes anything that amplifies or increases the effect of something else, e.g., 'Social media is a multiplier of trends.' or 'Trust is a multiplier in team performance.'
A capability, technology, or tactic that dramatically increases the combat effectiveness of a force without increasing its size, e.g., advanced communications, night-vision equipment, or superior intelligence.
It is almost exclusively a noun. The related verb is 'to multiply', the adjective is 'multiplicative' or used attributively as in 'multiplier effect', and the adverb is 'multiplicatively'.
A number or factor by which another number or quantity is multiplied.
Multiplier is usually formal / technical in register.
Multiplier: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmʌltɪplaɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmʌltəˌplaɪər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “force multiplier (military/strategic term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MULTI-PLIER: something that PLIES (folds/weaves) things together to make MULTIples.
Conceptual Metaphor
GROWTH IS MULTIPLICATION / AN AGENT IS A MULTIPLIER
Practice
Quiz
In an economic context, what does the 'multiplier effect' primarily describe?