multipolar

[muhl-tee-poh-ler, muhl-tahy-]

adjective

1. having several or many poles.

2. (of nerve cells) having more than two dendrites.

Other Word Forms

• multipolarity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of multipolar¹

First recorded in 1855–60; multi- + polar

Example Sentences

India's symbolic responses "in support of a multipolar world" including deepening engagement with Japan, China and Russia have been wise moves, Ajay Srivastava of the Delhi-based Global Trade Research Initiative told the BBC, adding that direct retaliation at this stage would be premature.

From BBC

But India is completely perplexed with the US and its position: "So it's a smart move – and feeds into the multipolar narrative that both India and China believe in."

From BBC

For over a decade, India has styled itself as a key node in a new multipolar order: one foot in Washington, another in Moscow, and a wary eye on Beijing.

From BBC

"We seek a fair, balanced and multi-polar world order, including a multipolar Asia," Jaishankar said.

From BBC

Yet it's also true that the “spheres of influence” model has a perverse appeal that goes well beyond aspiring dictators into various quarters on the left: It recognizes that we live in a multipolar world, and strikes many international observers as less hypocritical than the “rules-based order” so piously advocated by former Secretary of State Tony Blinken, which amounted to old-school U.S. hegemony dressed up in contemporary drag.

From Salon