Word: plethora (noun)

Associations

"Plethora" means a very large amount or number of something. It is often used when there is more than enough, sometimes even too much, of something.

• Example 1: "There was a plethora of food at the party." This means there was a lot of food, more than enough.
• Example 2: "She has a plethora of ideas for the project." This means she has many ideas.
• Example 3: "The store offers a plethora of choices for shoes." This means the store has many different shoes to choose from.

Synonym: "Abundance" is a common synonym. The difference is "plethora" sometimes suggests more than needed, while "abundance" usually just means a large amount, often positive.

Substitution

You can replace "plethora" with:

• "a lot of"
• "many"
• "an abundance of"
• "a great number of" These words are simpler and often used in everyday speech. Using "plethora" sounds a bit more formal or literary.

Deconstruction

The word "plethora" comes from Greek "plēthōra," meaning "fullness." It entered English in the 15th century. It does not have prefixes or suffixes in English; it is a borrowed noun.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a situation where having a plethora of something might be a problem?
• What kinds of things in your life do you have a plethora of?
• How would you explain the difference between "plethora" and "a few" to a friend?