multinational

adjective

mul·​ti·​na·​tion·​al ˌməl-tē-ˈna-sh(ə-)nəl 

-ˌtī-

1

: of or relating to more than two nationalities

a multinational society

2

a

: of, relating to, or involving more than two nations

a multinational alliance

b

: having divisions in more than two countries

a multinational corporation

multinational noun

Synonyms of multinational

• international

Examples of multinational in a Sentence

multinational efforts to negotiate a lasting peace in the region

Recent Examples on the Web

While disrupting the business of an American multinational company may seem a pallid response to the destruction of an Iranian primary school where more than a hundred children were killed, such asymmetric attacks in the physical and digital realms have been a feature of this conflict. —Sue Halpern, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

During Arctic Dolphin, a multinational NATO force of frigates, helicopters and patrol aircraft scoured the Norwegian Sea in pursuit of two submarines — one Norwegian, one German — posing as adversaries. —Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026

North Sea boosts government revenue In the North Sea, between the island of Great Britain and Scandinavia, a mix of multinational and government-owned companies produce most of the oil. —Tibor Besedeš, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2026

The Kumano had taken part in the recent Exercise Kakadu, biennial multinational maritime drills hosted by Australia. —ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for multinational

• international
• supranational
• binational
• irrational
• subnational
• transnational
• national
• rational

Kids Definition

multinational

1 of 2 adjective

mul·​ti·​na·​tion·​al

ˌməl-ti-ˈnash-nəl, 

-ən-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or involving more than two nations

2

: having divisions in more than two countries

multinational

2 of 2 noun

: a multinational corporation