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

Our vision is to remain the go-to solution for community-centric influencer marketing. —Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 5 May 2025

Today brand influencers are curating the lives of their loyal followers across platform. —Billee Howard, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

Imagine committing elaborate crimes to garner viral influencer attention or making connections with shady associates via the dark web. —Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 2 May 2025

The influencer created a lasting legacy by posting diary-style vlogs and candid conversations, videos that resonated with millions of viewers online. —Carissa Talmage, People.com, 2 May 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