multilateral

[ muhl-ti-lat-er-uhl ]

adjective

having several or many sides; many-sided.
participated in by more than two nations, parties, etc.; multipartite: multilateral agreements on disarmament.

Origin of multilateral

First recorded in 1690–1700; multi- + lateral

Other words from multilateral

mul·ti·lat·er·al·ism, noun
mul·ti·lat·er·al·ist, adjective, noun
mul·ti·lat·er·al·ly, adverb

Words Nearby multilateral

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use multilateral in a sentence

Covax, a multilateral initiative, was set up to help develop, fund, and equitably distribute vaccines.
Don’t hate the vaccine tourists, hate the vaccine game | Jen Kirby | February 12, 2021 | Vox
When Democrats have the keys, big, multilateral agreements are the order of the day.
Rebranding America Is Very On-Brand | Philip Elliott | January 29, 2021 | Time
He pledged support for multilateral institutions, promised to challenge dictators and to focus on our issues in committee hearings.
Meeks elected House Foreign Affairs Committee chair | Michael K. Lavers | December 4, 2020 | Washington Blade
We can see it on the global stage where in multilateral organizations, it is not a given that the democracies have the majority of votes or, or voices.
Podcast: How democracies can reclaim digital power | Anthony Green | October 15, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
Absent multilateral funding, developing economies have been unable to match the stimulus efforts of their rich world counterparts.
Econ 3.0? What economists can contribute to (and learn from) the pandemic | Claire Beatty | September 28, 2020 | MIT Technology Review

But we should start sharing that burden with other nations and multilateral organizations more than we have.
Take John McCain’s Russia Advice and You Might Get Another Cold War | Michael Tomasky | March 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“The fact is, President Obama has consistently demonstrated his commitment to multilateral diplomacy,” Rice said.
Syrian Opposition Against New Kerry-Lavrov Plan to Avoid Strike | Josh Rogin | September 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The multilateral governance system remains largely unreformed and apparently immune to changes in business practice.
Big Idea: The Time for Divided Nations Is Over | Ian Goldin | August 1, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Assess the variables of unilateral U.S. action or bilateral/multilateral action.
The Essential Spy Guide | Henry A. Crumpton | May 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Asking for recognition by the 192 countries of the U.N., by contrast, is the very definition of “multilateral.”
Not Quite A "Badge Of Honor" | Peter Beinart | November 2, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Such relaxations as took place in controls were changes that did not affect the multilateral embargo.
East-West Trade Trends | Harold E. Stassen
The 70s witnessed a proliferation of multilateral assistance programs.
After the Rain | Sam Vaknin
The word "multilateral" (many-sided) is a translation of the Greek polypleuros.
The Teaching of Geometry | David Eugene Smith
Triangles are of three kinds, the equilateral or three-sided, the quadrilateral or four-sided, and the multilateral or polyglot.
Toaster's Handbook | Peggy Edmund and Harold W. Williams, compilers
It will enable the whole sterling area and other countries affiliated with it to resume trade on a multilateral basis.
State of the Union Addresses of Harry S. Truman | Harry S. Truman

British Dictionary definitions for multilateral

multilateral

/ (ˌmʌltɪˈlætərəl, -ˈlætrəl) /

adjective

of or involving more than two nations or parties: a multilateral pact
having many sides

Derived forms of multilateral

multilaterally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse