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

often, specifically : a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media

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

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

Examples of influencer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Trump’s Washington, that title belongs to a different kind of creature: the ferociously loyal, hard-right, pro-Trump influencer. —Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025

Aaron Tetzlaff, an agent at Coldwell Banker Warburg, tells me the term was popularized by a real estate influencer named Brandon Turner, author and former host of the BiggerPockets podcast. —Terri Williams, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

Used, and use, social media and influencer campaigns. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025

Also in attendance were a number of conservative influencers, including the journalist Sage Steele and the lawyer Leo Terrell. —Erica L. Green, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1662, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

influencer

noun

in·​flu·​enc·​er

: one who exerts influence : a person who inspires or guides the actions of others