# multiplier

/ˈməɫtəˌpɫaɪɝ/ (US) · /mˈʌltɪplˌaɪə/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/multiplier
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a number that you multiply another number by. In business or science, it also describes a factor that causes a much larger increase in a total result.

For teachers: a quantity by which a given number is to be multiplied. In macroeconomics, it refers to a factor by which an initial change in spending causes a larger change in national income.

## Examples

- In the equation 5 times 3, the number 3 is the multiplier.
- Economists argue that government investment in infrastructure has a high multiplier effect on the local economy.
- The fiscal multiplier measures the ratio in which a change in government spending causes a change in the overall gross domestic product, reflecting the broader impact of initial capital injections.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the phrase 'multiplier effect' to describe a chain reaction of growth.

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