multilingual

adjective mul·ti·lin·gual \ -ˈliŋ-gwəl , -ˈliŋ-gyə-wəl \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of multilingual

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

play \-gwə-ˌli-zəm, -gyə-wə-\ noun

—

multilingually

play \-gwə-lē, -gyə-wə-lē\ adverb

See multilingual defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of multilingual from the Web

Zimbabwe, like many countries in Africa, is multilingual.

— farai mutsaka, The Seattle Times, "Zimbabwe faces accusations of leaking voters’ personal data," 10 July 2018
There is room for all at The Elbow Room, a small neighborhood pub in the multilingual, multiethnic goulash that is north London.

— liz clarke, chicagotribune.com, "In England, a nation conditioned to World Cup failure is starting to believe," 8 July 2018
In order to achieve acceptability, services must be culturally appropriate — in certain cases, this means care that is multilingual.

— hannah holzer, sacbee, "STD rates rise in Sacramento County, following statewide, nationwide trends," 2 July 2018
The company also has plans to launch multilingual support to Assistant later this year.

— carson kessler, Fortune, "Google Home Now Speaks Spanish," 27 June 2018
Dirt roads lead past understated $2 million cottages toward exquisite beaches, where multilingual South Americans and Europeans flirt and play paddleball and discuss their 11 p.m. dinner reservations.

— christopher bagley, Condé Nast Traveler, "Alan Faena Creates La Vie Bohème in José Ignacio, Uruguay," 18 June 2018
Not only is Pjanić's ability on the pitch highly desirable for any potential suitors, but the 28-year-old's ability to speak six languages would make the midfielder a valuable addition to any multilingual dressing room.

— SI.com, "Juventus Ready New Contract for Midfield Star in Bid to End Speculation Over Future," 9 June 2018
Children often learn their first without any instruction, and can easily become multilingual with the right exposure.

— The Economist, "To master a language, start learning it early," 10 May 2018
There may be no greater sign of the N.B.A.’s global growth than the fact that so many of the league’s players have multilingual potty mouths.

— New York Times, "A Polyglot N.B.A. Swears by One Thing: That Call Was #@!&," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'multilingual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

First Known Use of multilingual

1838

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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MULTILINGUAL Defined for English Language Learners

multilingual

adjective

Definition of multilingual for English Language Learners

: able to speak and understand several languages
: using or expressed in several languages

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Britannica English: Translation of multilingual for Arabic speakers

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multilingual

Definition of multilingual

multilingualism

multilingually

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MULTILINGUAL Defined for English Language Learners

multilingual

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multilingual

Definition of multilingual

multilingualism

multilingually

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