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
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
An influencer can write a holiday recipe, sponsored by a food brand, and that content and the associated brand awareness will still resonate with audiences in a year's time. —Danielle Wiley
Danielle Wiley 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
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
Alix Langone Examples of influencer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2024, Ku and Lilo attended NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, meeting players like Myles Turner and connecting with other influencers.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Musk said at that time that X decided to delete Lucre’s offending posts but to reinstate the right-wing influencer to the platform.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
The ‘cult of creatine’ Creatine is everywhere, championed by fitness influencers and mental health advocates alike.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
More scrutiny came recently after an unverified online video from conservative influencer Nick Shirley alleging fraud in child care in Somali communities in Minneapolis.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for influencer
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Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Musk said at that time that X decided to delete Lucre’s offending posts but to reinstate the right-wing influencer to the platform.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
The ‘cult of creatine’ Creatine is everywhere, championed by fitness influencers and mental health advocates alike.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
More scrutiny came recently after an unverified online video from conservative influencer Nick Shirley alleging fraud in child care in Somali communities in Minneapolis.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for influencer
Cite this Entry
“Influencer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/influencer. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
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