multiplicity
noun
mul·ti·plic·i·ty
ˌməl-tə-ˈpli-sə-tē 
plural multiplicities
1
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
Resilience requires a multiplicity of suppliers, logistics networks, and production means.
—
Saadia Zahidi, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
And that multiplicity is exactly what Fong and her collaborators discovered while studying another fast radio burst.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
Macdonald is one heckuva defensive mind, responsible for helping advance the league forward with multiplicity and versatility at the core of his philosophies.
—Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2024
The harem within emerges not as prison guards but as a chorus of multiplicity, offering voices and perspectives that enrich and deepen creative work.
—Fidan Cheikosman, JSTOR Daily, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for multiplicity 
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Saadia Zahidi, Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025
And that multiplicity is exactly what Fong and her collaborators discovered while studying another fast radio burst.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025
Macdonald is one heckuva defensive mind, responsible for helping advance the league forward with multiplicity and versatility at the core of his philosophies.
—Nick Suss, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2024
The harem within emerges not as prison guards but as a chorus of multiplicity, offering voices and perspectives that enrich and deepen creative work.
—Fidan Cheikosman, JSTOR Daily, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for multiplicity
Dictionary Entries Near multiplicity
Cite this Entry
“Multiplicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multiplicity. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
J. J. HollandLegal 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
W. R. LaFave and J. H. IsraelNote: 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
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