multilingual

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

Updated on: 7 Apr 2018

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

Out April 24 Helen DeWitt, Some Trick The multilingual author, known for her novels The Last Samurai (2000) and Lightning Rods (2011), demonstrates her intellectual prowess in this thought-provoking debut collection.

— kate samuelson, Time, "This Season Brings a Crop of Short Story Collections From Authors Known for Novels," 29 Mar. 2018
The addition in Rainier Valley will provide space for more multilingual preschool classrooms, plus a teen center, gathering hall and meeting space.

— evan bush, The Seattle Times, "Seattle’s Refugee Women’s Alliance building gets $5.5M expansion … and a party to celebrate," 29 Mar. 2018
Fresh from a four-year stint as Merkel’s chief of staff, the multilingual former European Union official is one of Merkel’s oldest confidants.

— arne delfs, Bloomberg.com, "Follow Merkel's Political Fixer for Hints on Germany's Direction," 26 Mar. 2018
New certificates in multicultural multilingual education and the science of health care delivery would include new fees.

— anne ryman and rachel leingang, azcentral, "7 ways Arizona's universities may raise tuition, fees for 2018-19 school year," 22 Mar. 2018
Well, almost: in the gazillion multilingual Google results for the outburst, the famous phrase in question is mostly (hilariously) not translated.

— Newsweek, "Analysis," 14 Mar. 2018
Realtors who are bilingual or multilingual often have the obvious advantage of being able to assist international clients whose native language might not be English.

— michelle sandlin, Houston Chronicle, "On the move: There are advantages when working with multilingual agents," 16 Feb. 2018
The multilingual actor's latest roles in '7 Days in Entebbe' and 'The Alienist' exemplify a career spent playing characters from multiple nationalities.

— katie kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, "How Daniel Bruhl Became Hollywood's Every Countryman," 16 Mar. 2018
Several multilingual characters, including the marvellous Christoph Waltz, alternate languages in the service of crucial plot points.

— The Economist, "Language is the last frontier for Hollywood film-makers," 15 Mar. 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

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multilingualism

multilingually

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