multiplayer

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/ˌmʌl.tiˈpleɪ.əɹ/UK[ˌmɐɫtiˈpl̥eɪ̯ə]US[ˌmʌɫtiˈpl̥eɪ̯ɚ]

adjective

Requiring or allowing multiple (or more than the usual two) players to play simultaneously.

“He always loved to play multiplayer games with his friends.”

Opposite
single-playersolitaire
OriginEnglish player ← Middle English pleyere ← Old English pleġere →
CommonScrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectivemultiplayer (not comparable)

alternative rare multi-player

  1. not comparablegamesRequiring or allowing multiple (or more than the usual two) players to play simultaneously.
nounmultiplayer (countable and uncountable, plural multiplayers)

plural multiplayers · alternative rare multi-player

  1. uncountablegamesThe feature of a video game where multiple human players play simultaneously.

    He always loved to play multiplayer games with his friends.

    2 more examples

    I just heard that the game will have multiplayer when it comes out!

    Glu Mobile, who realigned its workforce towards centralized GaaS functions last year, announced earlier this month that it will shut down GameSpy Technology on May 31. The service provides multiplayer functionality for dozens of games on consoles, computers and mobile devices.

    2014 May 1, Jenna Pitcher, “Glu Mobile acquires Diner Dash developer PlayFirst”, in Polygon, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2023
  2. countablein pluraluncountableVideo game players who play multiplayer games.

    The audio suggestions just mentioned would be advantageous when pairs are working together at a computer or multiplayers are collaborating or competing in online educational games and simulations.

    2006, David Gibson, Clark Aldrich, Marc Prensky, Games and Simulations in Online Learning: Research and Development, page 375
    1 more example

    After dinner, Isaac brought out his portable gaming console for multiplayers, and he and I began our car racing battle while the others unpacked and brought out the Japanese futons, duvets, and pillows.

    2020, Bella Chan, Noah to Haru, page 13

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
single-playersolitaire

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*mel-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ml̥tós?
  3. Proto-Italic*moltos
  4. Latinmultus
  5. Latinmultī
  6. Middle Englishmulti-
  7. Englishmulti-
  8. Proto-West Germanic*plegō
  9. Proto-West Germanic*plegōn
  10. Old Englishplegian
  11. Old Englishpleġere
  12. Middle Englishpleyere
  13. Englishplayer
  14. Englishmultiplayer

From multi- + player.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Danish multiplayer, flerspiller
  • multiplayerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • flerspillerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multiplayerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • flerspillerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Finnish moninpeli, moninpeli-
  • moninpeliallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • moninpeli-allowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • moninpeliallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • moninpeli-allowing multiple players to play simultaneously
French multijoueur, multijoueur
  • multijoueurallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multijoueurallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
German Mehrspieler-, Mehrspieler
  • Mehrspieler-allowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • Mehrspielerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Italian multigiocatore, multigiocatore
  • multigiocatoreallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multigiocatoreallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Portuguese multijogador, multijogadora
  • multijogadorallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multijogadoraallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multijogadorallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Spanish multijugador, multijugador
  • multijugadorallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multijugadorallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Swedish flerspelar-, multiplayer
  • flerspelar-allowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multiplayerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • flerspelar-allowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • multiplayerallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Tagalog pangmaramihan, pangmarami
  • pangmaramihanallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
  • pangmaramiallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Turkish çok oyunculu
  • çok oyunculuallowing multiple players to play simultaneously
Cite this entry
APA

multiplayer. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multiplayer

MLA

“multiplayer.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multiplayer. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “multiplayer,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/multiplayer.

Source: multiplayer on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.