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 talks on Ukraine are in a trilateral format, which include American, Ukrainian and Russian representatives. —David Brennan, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

Beijing has repeatedly rejected calls to join trilateral nuclear arms control talks, however, noting that its weapons stockpile is significantly smaller than those of the U.S. and Russia. —Mariia Kashchenko, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026

Zelensky said the Trump administration proposed holding another round of trilateral talks seeking to end the war next week. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026

The timing couldn’t be more pertinent with the second round of trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US taking place in Abu Dhabi this week in a bid to break the impasse and bring an end to the conflict. —Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 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