multifarious

IPA/ˌmʌltɪˈfeəriəs/
IPA/ˌmʌltɪˈferiəs/

multifarious — adjective

  • multifariouspositive
  • more multifariouscomparative
  • most multifarioussuperlative

1. used to describe a group or collection that includes many very different kinds o

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

used to describe a group or collection that includes many very different kinds of people, things, or activities within a single whole — for example, a library whose books cover every topic, or a person whose duties include teaching, administration, and research

Example

The museum's collection includes multifarious artifacts, from ancient clay pots to modern digital prints.

attributive: multifarious + noun + from [range] to [range]

Dr. Okafor's multifarious duties range from clinic work to medical school lectures.

attributive: multifarious [noun] + range from...to...

Common collocations
  • multifarious collection
  • multifarious duties
  • multifarious interests
  • multifarious activities
  • multifarious problems
  • multifarious aspects
Synonyms
  • diverse

    more common in everyday English; 'multifarious' is more formal and literary

  • varied

    simplest and most general term; less emphatic about the degree of difference

  • manifold

    also formal, but emphasizes many aspects rather than many kinds

  • miscellaneous

    suggests a mixed assortment without the implication of richness or breadth

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

multifarious + plural noun

be + multifarious

Usage Note

Typically used before a noun (attributive position), though predicative uses (after 'be') also occur. Intensifiers such as 'very' are redundant because the word already expresses a high degree of variety. Frequent in academic and formal writing; less common in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

The library has a very multifarious collection.
The library has a remarkably diverse collection.
'multifarious' already expresses a high degree of variety, so 'very' is redundant.
I saw multifarious birds in the park.
I saw many different kinds of birds in the park.
'multifarious' is too formal for casual observations of individual species; use simpler alternatives in everyday speech.
She has multifarious hobbies like reading one book.
She has multifarious hobbies, including painting, hiking, and cooking.
The word implies genuine variety; a single item does not support it.

Word family

  • multifariously
    adverbC2
  • multifariousness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Diverse is the closest everyday equivalent, used widely for groups of people, opinions, or things that differ from one another (e.g. 'a diverse student body'). Varied is the simplest and most general term, suggesting change or difference without emphasizing breadth (e.g. 'varied work experience'). Manifold overlaps with multifarious in formality but focuses on 'many aspects or layers' rather than 'many distinct kinds' — a problem can be manifold without involving many kinds of problems. Miscellaneous is a practical word for mixed items that lack a unifying type ('miscellaneous expenses'), but lacks the positive connotation of richness and breadth that multifarious carries. Use multifarious when you want to stress that the variety is remarkable and wide-ranging: 'The festival attracted multifarious performers, from opera singers to hip-hop DJs.'

diverse ↗varied ↗manifold ↗miscellaneous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a multifarious range of
  • multifarious in nature

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Multifarious comes from the Latin word multifārius, meaning 'many-sided' or 'manifold'. It was formed from multus ('many') and -fārius, a suffix related to facere ('to do or make') — so the literal sense is 'done or made in many ways'. The word entered English in the late 16th century, first used in formal and scholarly writing to describe complex subjects with many parts.

First known use

1593

1593, in the meaning defined above