multilateral
adjective
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Since lateral means "side", multilateral means basically "many-sided". The philosophy of multilateralism claims that the best solutions generally result when as many of the world's nations as possible are involved in discussions, and multilateralists often favor strengthening the United Nations. Today multilateralism can be seen at work in, for example, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and the International Criminal Court. But the U.S. doesn't always join the major multilateral organizations, instead often behaving as if a unilateral approach—that is, going it alone—was best for the interests of a powerful nation.
Examples of multilateral in a Sentence
Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
These decisions reflect a shift away from multilateral engagement and stand in contrast to Alfred Nobel’s vision.
—Nina Græger, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Trump’s broadside against the UN is the latest salvo in a broader rhetorical battle about the value of multilateral organizations like it compared with the bilateral partnerships and deals favored by the current US administration.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Addressing the intersection of nuclear proliferation and emerging technologies will also require global buy-in, including from China and Russia, and the updating of international safeguards and multilateral export regimes.
—Mariano-Florentino CuÉllar, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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multilateral
adjective
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