multilateral

adjective

mul·​ti·​lat·​er·​al ˌməl-tē-ˈla-t(ə-)rəl 

-ˌtī-

1

: having many sides

2

: involving or participated in by more than two nations or parties

multilateral agreements

multilateralism

ˌməl-tē-ˈla-t(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˌtī-

noun

multilateralist

ˌməl-tē-ˈla-t(ə-)rə-list 

-ˌtī-

noun

multilaterally adverb

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web

His political project requires weakening the international institutions—the UN, EU regulatory bodies, multilateral climate frameworks—that his theology now identifies as potential instruments of the Antichrist’s rule. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Washington broadly went along with the same logic because the alternative, the total economic isolation of Russia, would have required genuine multilateral coordination with India and China, an outcome that was never politically realistic. — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Effective multilateral cooperation, according to Frédéric Ramel, a professor at Paris’ Sciences Po, requires both trustworthiness and trust-responsiveness. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026

By far the most common reason for trips is bilateral or multilateral meetings. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for multilateral

• basolateral
• contralateral
• dorsolateral
• equilateral
• ipsilateral
• quadrilateral
• unilateral
• ventrolateral
• anterolateral
• posterolateral
• bilateral
• collateral

Kids Definition

multilateral

adjective

mul·​ti·​lat·​er·​al ˌməl-ti-ˈlat-ə-rəl 

-ˌtī-, 

-ˈla-trəl

1

: having many sides

2

: involving or taken part in by more than two nations or groups

a multilateral treaty

multilaterally

-ē

adverb