# manifold

/ˈmænəˌfoʊɫd/ (US) · /mˈænɪfˌəʊld/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/manifold
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

describing something that has many different parts, forms, or types. You use this word to emphasize how much variety or complexity something has.

For teachers: having many and various forms, features, or applications. Often used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize diversity or complexity within a single system or entity.

## Examples

- The benefits of regular exercise are manifold.
- The reasons for the company's sudden collapse were manifold, ranging from poor management to shifting global market trends.
- Scholars have noted that the implications of this discovery are manifold, affecting not only our understanding of ancient history but also modern linguistic theory.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun, or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be'.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.