plethora

noun pleth·o·ra \ ˈple-thə-rə \

|Updated on: 25 Jun 2018

Examples: plethora in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of plethora

1 : a bodily condition characterized by an excess of blood and marked by turgescence and a florid complexion

2 : abundance, profusion

… Grand Cayman offers a plethora of bustling restaurants, ritzy resorts and comfortable condos …
—Susanne Cummings

… in a world whose credibility is threatened by the meaningless plethora of material goods it goes on producing.
—W. Roy Niblett

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plethoric

play \plə-ˈthȯr-ik, ple-, -ˈthär-; ˈple-thə-rik\ adjective

See plethora defined for English-language learners

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Examples of plethora in a Sentence

There has been a plethora of plays in recent years whose claim to modernity is based on indicated rather than felt emotion. —Arthur Miller, Harper's, March 1999
The plethora of short-lived ceasefires in the Balkans and the Caucasus constitute proof that we are no longer in a world where the old rules of state warfare apply. —Robert D. Kaplan, Atlantic, February 1994
… served at the long plank table in the banquet hut, amid a plethora of toasts to progress, amity, and the overthrow of imperialism—the meal passed in a blur. —John Updike, Trust Me, (1962) 1987
In their view, there are the very few hard-pressed good guys losing the landscape to a plethora of bad guys. —Carol Bly, Letters from the Country, 1981
A plethora of books have been written on the subject.
a biology textbook that is helpfully illustrated with a plethora of excellent illustrations

Recent Examples of plethora from the Web

There was a plethora of 1980s neon colors, bright florals and prints —from Manga volley-ball playing characters to Roger Minick photographs of tourists.

— Washington Post, "Prada redefines youthful elegance with psychedelic flair," 17 June 2018
There are a plethora of patterns and colors, from a lattice to red, white, and blue pointed stars.

— elise taylor, Vogue, "Raf Simons Brings Americana to a New Medium: Calvin Klein Chairs," 11 June 2018
Clips from the show are played with a plethora of memorabilia.

— allison keyes, Smithsonian, "Oprah’s Undeniable Influence on American History Recognized in New Smithsonian Exhibition," 8 June 2018
While there are a plethora of television specials leading up to the wedding, Lifetime’s Harry & Meghan is one of the few premieres that features a more dramatized depiction of their relationship, rather than a documentary.

— lena grossman, Time, "The Most Over-the-Top Moments from Lifetime's Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance," 14 May 2018
Raise a glass at the South Shore Terrace Look, there are a plethora of excellent beer gardens in and around Milwaukee.

— amy schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Bucket list: 25 top things to do in Milwaukee," 13 Apr. 2018
In truth however, despite the plethora of domestic honours accumulated with club sides, England's tournament failed to get going in Germany.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown - 3 Weeks to Go: England's 'Golden Generation' Fail to Deliver in Germany," 4 June 2018
Despite the plethora of options, Harrison opted to go to school in her home state — and close to her hometown.

— caitlin keating, PEOPLE.com, "North Carolina Student Accepted Into 113 Colleges, Earns Over $4.5 Million in Scholarships," 3 May 2018
Much like the plethora of meaningless college football bowls, these tournaments exist largely to provide a glut of television programming and churn out even more revenue for the schools.

— paul newberry, chicagotribune.com, "Dump these conference tournaments, get to real thing," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plethora.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Plethora comes from a similar Greek word meaning "fullness." It was first used in English in the 16th century to describe a supposed medical condition marked by an excess volume of blood causing swelling and a reddish complexion. Later, the medical use of "plethora" was extended to indicate related medical conditions (such as an excess volume of bodily fluid or the red-skinned appearance of some newborns). These days, however, "plethora" is more often used in a general, non-medical sense, with the meaning "excess" or "abundance."