influence
/ˈɪn.flu.əns/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.78 in modern English
14
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
An element believed to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "I have absolutely no influence over him."
- "The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. And, as their ubiquity spreads, so too does the debate around whether we should allow ourselves to become so reliant on them – and who, if anyone, is policing their use."
- "I'm not able to exercise influence over him."
- "Terra Firma is an Alliance political party formed after the First Contact War. Its policy agenda is based on the principle that Earth must 'stand firm' against alien influences. This covers a variety of legislation. Recent activities by Terra Firma include opposition to a law requiring high school alien language study, a proposal to increase tariffs on alien imports, and leading a popular movement to mark the First Contact War with a public holiday."
- "He has been a great influence on the voters during the elections."
- "The animals were thoroughly frightened. It seemed to them as though Snowball were some kind of invisible influence, pervading the air about them and menacing them with all kinds of dangers."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Italic *en Proto-Italic *en- Latin in- Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰlewH-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰluH-yé-ti? Latin fluō Latin īnfluōder. Latin īnfluēns Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Medieval Latin īnfluentiabor. Old French influenceder. Middle English influence English influence Inherited from Middle English influence, from Old French influence, borrowed from Medieval Latin īnfluentia, from Latin īnfluēns + -ia. Doublet of influenza.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɪn.flu.əns/
- British English: /ˈɪn.flu.əns/