trilateral

adjective

tri·​lat·​er·​al (ˌ)trī-ˈla-tə-rəl 

-ˈla-trəl

: having three sides or parties

trilateral business ventures

trilateral discussions

Examples of trilateral in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trilateral talks are face to face between the US, Pakistan and Iran, the official said in a statement to pool reporters traveling with the US delegation. —Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026

Despite the trilateral agreement, Iranian officials closed the strait on Wednesday, saying a massive Israeli air assault on Beirut violated the terms of the deal. —Npr Staff, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026

Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighboring Persian Gulf states have disrupted the trilateral talks between the U.S., Ukraine and Russia, some of which took place in the Middle East in the weeks before the Iran war. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026

The trilateral talks, which have yet to produce any breakthrough on key issues, have been on ice while the Iran war has dominated international attention. —Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin trilaterus, from tri- + later-, latus side

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trilateral

• bilateral
• collateral
• anterolateral
• posterolateral
• basolateral
• contralateral
• dorsolateral
• equilateral
• ipsilateral
• multilateral
• quadrilateral
• unilateral

Kids Definition

trilateral

adjective

tri·​lat·​er·​al (ˈ)trī-ˈlat-ə-rəl 

-ˈla-trəl

: having three sides