multilateral
adjective
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Since lateral means "side", multilateral means basically "many-sided". The philosophy of multilateralism claims that the best solutions generally result when as many of the world's nations as possible are involved in discussions, and multilateralists often favor strengthening the United Nations. Today multilateralism can be seen at work in, for example, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the International Criminal Court. But the U.S. doesn't always join the major multilateral organizations, instead often behaving as if a unilateral approach—that is, going it alone—was best for the interests of a powerful nation.
Examples of multilateral in a Sentence
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recall that Trump in his first term shredded the multilateral nuclear nonproliferation agreement with Iran.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
In foreign policy, Beijing has prioritized its own interests by forging bilateral ties while encouraging multilateral engagement.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 2 Mar. 2026
The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, NATO, and other post-war multilateral institutions are struggling for relevance as nation-states increasingly abandon the pursuit of the common good.
—Time, 26 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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multilateral
adjective
