1. The condition or quality of being numerous.
2. A very great number.
3. The masses; the populace: the concerns of the multitude.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin multitūdō, from multus, many.]

SYNONYMS   multitude, host, legion, army. These nouns all denote a very great number of people or things. Multitude is the most general term: a multitude of reasons. Host and legion both stress impressively, sometimes countlessly large numbers: a host of ideas; a legion of complaints. Army emphasizes order and often purposeful association: an army of ants.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.