multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈpli-sə-tē 

plural multiplicities

1

a

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

b

: the number of components in a system (such as a multiplet or a group of energy levels)

2

: a great number

3

: the number of times a root of an equation or zero of a function occurs when there is more than one root or zero

the multiplicity of x = 2 for the equation (x − 2)³ = 0 is 3

Synonyms

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• profusion
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Examples of multiplicity in a Sentence

a multiplicity of suggestions for turning the company around

Shakespeare's works seem to encompass the full multiplicity of human experience.

Recent Examples on the Web

This dynamism culminates in The Ugly Ducklings (2019), where a multiplicity of genres is presented, expanding Cairokee’s audience base by offering them each something. —Maha Elnabawi, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2024

In reality, each region contained—and still contains—a multiplicity of ethnicities. —Uzodinma Iweala, Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2022

Much of this multiplicity is owed to the state’s previous constitution, written in 1870. —Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2024

If October 7th and the war on Gaza has sparked an ideological debate among American Jews, in all their multiplicity, a parallel fight has emerged among Asian Americans. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French multiplicité, from Late Latin multiplicitat-, multiplicitas, from Latin multiplic-, multiplex

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈplis-ət-ē 

plural multiplicities

1

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

2

: a great number

Medical Definition

multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈplis-ət-ē 

plural multiplicities

1

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

2

: the ratio of the number of infectious particles (as of a bacteriophage) to the number of cells at risk

monolayer cultures … were infected at an effective multiplicity of approximately 100

—J. J. Holland

Legal Definition

multiplicity

noun

mul·​ti·​plic·​i·​ty ˌməl-tə-ˈpli-sə-tē 

plural multiplicities

1

a

: the quality or state of being multiple or various

b

: the charging of a single criminal act or offense as multiple separate charges or counts of an indictment or information

multiplicity does not require dismissal of the indictment

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel

compare duplicity sense 2, misjoinder

Note: Multiplicity raises the risk of violating the double jeopardy protection against receiving multiple sentences for a single offense. Multiplicity is a defect that can be corrected without dismissal of the case.

2

: a great number

joinder is allowed to avoid a multiplicity of actions