multilingual

adjective

mul·​ti·​lin·​gual ˌməl-tē-ˈliŋ-gwəl 

-ˈliŋ-gyə-wəl, 

-ˌtī-

1

: of, having, or expressed in several languages

a multilingual sign

multilingual dictionaries

2

: using or able to use several languages especially with equal fluency

multilingual translators

multilingualism

ˌməl-tē-ˈliŋ-gwə-ˌli-zəm 

-gyə-wə-, 

-ˌtī-

noun

multilingually

ˌməl-tē-ˈliŋ-gwə-lē 

-gyə-wə-lē, 

-ˌtī-

adverb

Did you know?

The roots of multilingual come from Latin. If you happen to prefer Greek, use the synonym polyglot, in which poly- has the same meaning as multi-, and -glot means the same thing as -lingual. The best way to become multilingual is probably to be born in a bilingual (two-language) household; learning those first two seems to give the mind the kind of exercise that makes later language-learning easy.

Examples of multilingual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Given this, heat outreach must replicate hurricane season's door-to-door networks, multilingual messaging, and trusted community partnerships to ensure no one is left in the dark. — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

In fact, researchers have found that being multilingual may delay dementia diagnoses and slow down how fast the brain ages. — Richard Sima, Washington Post, 28 July 2026

The multilingual teenager who acted as an interpreter between the team and British rescue divers belongs to the Wa ethnic minority and was born stateless. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 24 July 2026

The Indian case speaks to both the possibility of a genuinely multilingual society and its risks. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1