multifaceted
Americanadjective
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having many facets, as a gem.
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having many aspects or phases.
a multifaceted problem.
adjective
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(of a gem) having many facets
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having many aspects, abilities, etc
Etymology
Origin of multifaceted
First recorded in 1865–70; multi- + faceted ( def. )
Explanation
Multifaceted means having many aspects or sides. Diamonds are usually cut to be multifaceted, that is, with many angled flat surfaces, because this increases their ability to reflect light. Since facet means "aspect," "side," or "face," multifaceted means "many aspects, sides, or faces." This can apply to jewels or other physical objects, like the eyes of a dragonfly, but it can also refer to complicated issues that have lots of contributing factors and generate more than two sides to an argument. A multifaceted person has many abilities, or a personality with many sides to it.
Vocabulary lists containing multifaceted
This Week in Words: August 21 - 25, 2017
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This Week In Culture, September 7–13, 2019
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President Obama's Speech to the Nation about Terrorism
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The film moves between the two in a sweeping, polyphonic narrative blending performances by professional and amateur actors, portraying a multifaceted Franco-African community refreshingly free from stereotypes.
From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026
He added that he looked forward to working closely to strengthen "our multifaceted relationship".
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
By devising a tax-efficient and multifaceted distribution strategy.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 27, 2026
By including not only the central scenes but reassembling the small, narrative panels—or predellas— typically occupying the lowest register, they’ve allowed viewers to see Fra Angelico’s compositions in all their complex, multifaceted splendor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025
Characterizing the similarities is as difficult as nailing down a blob of mercury, because exceptions abound and human behavior is always multifaceted.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
