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
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 3 June 2026
For Sheikh, one example that the United States might follow is the Macolin Convention — a multilateral treaty organised by the Council of Europe, which seeks to tackle match-fixing by making amendments to international law.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 June 2026
In his encyclical, Leo fretted about multiple ongoing wars, lamented the decline of multilateral coalitions and blasted arms industry profits as driving the conflicts.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 May 2026
The multilateral safety net that boards have been quietly assuming exists is being dismantled.
—Tj Marlin, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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multilateral
adjective
