multi

Multi– is a combining form used like a prefix with a variety of meanings, including “many; much; multiple.” It is often used in scientific and technical terms.

Multi– comes from Latin multus, meaning “much” and “many.” The Greek equivalent of multus is polýs, also meaning both “much” and “many,” which is the source of the combining form poly–. To learn more, check out our Words That Use article about poly–.

What are variants of multi-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, multi– becomes mult–, as in multangular, from Latin multangulus. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about mult-.

One example of a word you may be familiar with that features the form multi– is multiply, “to make many or manifold; increase the number of, etc.” Multiply comes from Latin multiplicāre, which features the equivalent of the form multi– in that language.

The multi– part of the word means “many,” but what about the –ply part of the word? The verb –ply means “to bend, fold, or mold.” Multiply literally translates to “to mold many.”

What are some words that use the combining form multi-?

• multiaxial joint
• multicolor
• multicellular
• multidirectional
• multimedia
• multiplex (using the equivalent form of multi- in Latin)

What are some other forms that multi– may be commonly confused with?

• milli-

The combining form –plex means “having parts or units.” With this in mind, what does multiplex literally mean?