English dictionary

multiple Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of multiple?

The plural of multiple is multiples.

/ˈmʌltɪpəl/

What Does Multiple Mean?

Multiple is a determiner that means More than one (followed by plural). As an adjective, it means Having more than one element, part, component, or function, having more than one instance, occurring more than once, usually contrary to expectations (can be followed by a singular). As a noun, it means A whole number that is obtained by multiplying a specific whole number by another whole number.

Word Facts for Multiple

Part of speech	determiner, adjective, noun
Pronunciation	//ˈmʌltɪpəl//
Syllables	1
Synonyms	aggregate, treble and multiplex
Antonyms	paucal
Plural	multiples

Multiple Definition (Determiner)

More than one (followed by plural).
My Swiss Army knife has multiple blades.

Multiple as an Adjective

Having more than one element, part, component, or function, having more than one instance, occurring more than once, usually contrary to expectations (can be followed by a singular).
Some states do explicitly prohibit multiple citizenship.
Of a person: displaying or experiencing two or more distinct personalities or selves in one body.

Multiple as a Noun

A whole number that is obtained by multiplying a specific whole number by another whole number.
14, 21 and 70 are multiples of 7
Price-earnings ratio.
One of a set of the same thing; a duplicate.
A single individual who displays or experiences multiple personalities or selves.
One of a set of siblings produced by a multiple birth.
A chain store.
A discovery resulting from the work of many people throughout history, not merely the work of the person who makes the final connection.
More than one piercing in a single ear.

Noun

A whole number that can be divided by another number with no remainder.
14, 21 and 70 are multiples of 7
A single individual who has multiple personalities.

Adjective

More than one (followed by plural).
My Swiss Army knife has multiple blades.

Antonyms of Multiple

paucal

Multiple in a Sentence

My Swiss Army knife has multiple blades.

Some states do explicitly prohibit multiple citizenship.

It was a multiple pregnancy: the woman had triplets.

Multiple registrations are an increasing problem for many social networking sites.

14, 21 and 70 are multiples of 7

Word Forms & Grammar

multiple

multiple (not comparable)

multiple (plural multiples)

Origin of Multiple

From French multiple, itself from Late Latin multiplus.

Pronouncing Multiple

The standard pronunciation of multiple is //ˈmʌltɪpəl//, spoken in 1 syllable.

Common Questions About Multiple

Is multiple a determiner or an adjective?

Multiple is mainly used as a determiner, but it can also be used as an adjective and a noun.

What is another word for multiple?

Words with a similar meaning to multiple include aggregate, treble and multiplex. See the full list of multiple synonyms and antonyms.