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

That then will only speak to the multiplicity of queerness and transness of the new forms of relationality, of connecting with us rather than further dividing us. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 3 Mar. 2025

Weak and ineffective governments; deep religious, ethnic, and interstate rivalries; and a multiplicity of bad actors—on top of the consequences of a terrible war in Gaza that may well not be over yet—will continue to conspire against progress toward peace and stability. —Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2025

Maintaining that right requires diligence, dialogue, flexibility, and a clear understanding of how this relationship works amidst a multiplicity of perspectives. —Dan Miller, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025

In the meantime, the multiplicity of Eurasian problems overtaxes American resources and creates an atmosphere of pervasive, proliferating disarray. —Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for multiplicity

• authenticity
• chromaticity
• concentricity
• domesticity
• eccentricity
• elasticity
• electricity
• iconicity
• metallicity
• specificity
• synchronicity
• analyticity

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