multinational
Americannoun
adjective
-
of, relating to, or involving several nations.
-
noting or pertaining to multinationals.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of multinational
Explanation
When something is described as multinational, it involves more than two countries. A multinational corporation buys and sells in several countries, and it may also have offices in these countries. A multinational conflict is a war that involves the governments of three or more countries. Multinational peacekeepers might be from an organization like the United Nations (which could also be described as a multinational organization), working in many countries toward a peaceful agreement between them. The adjective multinational uses the prefix multi-, or "many," adding it to national, from the Latin nationem, "birth, kind, or tribe."
Vocabulary lists containing multinational
Political Geography - Middle School
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Political Geography - High School
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Economics
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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.
A series of state directives since 2024 have singled out high-value services such as biopharma contracting, which conducts testing, research and development and manufacturing for multinational drug companies.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Creating a multinational fashion company was a long way off when Doris Lee Feigenbaum was born on Aug. 23, 1931 in San Francisco to Joseph Feigenbaum, a lawyer, and Dorothy Bamberger.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
It focuses on all-domain operations, crisis response, and multinational coordination to enhance regional security and prepare for emergencies.
From BBC • May 3, 2026
Under the change, multinational companies would no longer be allowed to shield the income of their foreign subsidiaries from state taxes.
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
He brought together representatives from multinational drug companies, independent middlemen and distributors, nonprofit organizations—almost anyone who might have an impact on drug pricing.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
