multilateral

[ muhl-ti-lat-er-uhl ]

adjective

1. having several or many sides; many-sided.
2. participated in by more than two nations, parties, etc.; multipartite:

   multilateral agreements on disarmament.

multilateral

/ ˌmʌltɪˈlætərəl; -ˈlætrəl /

adjective

1. of or involving more than two nations or parties

   a multilateral pact

2. having many sides

Derived Forms

• ˌmultiˈlaterally, adverb

Other Word Forms

• multi·later·al·ism noun
• multi·later·al·ist adjective noun
• multi·later·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of multilateral¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; multi- + lateral

Example Sentences

Xi is portraying his country as a champion of free trade, a backer of multilateral institutions, and making comparisons with the world's other superpower which is seen as trashing both of these.

From BBC

He is also chair of the Council of the Federation, a multilateral congress that includes all of Canada's provincial and territorial premiers.

From BBC

The bigger strategic point is that Carney's background means a focus on international solidarity, and defence of the existing multilateral system.

From BBC

For 80 years, from World War II through the Cold War and beyond, Washington relied on bilateral and multilateral alliances as a critical force multiplier.

From Salon

A: If the member states pull this off in Korea, it will be the fastest negotiated multilateral environmental agreement in the history of the world.

From Science Magazine