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
Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
The country has ramped up enrichment since President Donald Trump withdrew from a multilateral nuclear deal with Iran and major powers in 2018.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025
Xi just wrapped up a summit in Kazakhstan that also brought in the leaders of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan for multilateral meetings on the future of Chinese investment.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 22 June 2025
The challenge for Anwar was not only steering a multilateral ship through stormy waters but doing so while ASEAN’s engine showed signs of stalling.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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multilateral
adjective
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