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
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
At the same time, the Trump administration has slashed funding for various multilateral initiatives on climate, global health, and education.
—Zainab Usman, Foreign Affairs, 5 May 2025
China’s representation in multilateral technical bodies has grown by 250% in the past 10-15 years.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
To many foreign leaders, who grew up in a world cushioned by the postwar alliances and multilateral institutions created by the United States, the president’s approach has landed with the unsettling thud of a predawn visit at the door.
—Mark Landler, New York Times, 1 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
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multilateral
adjective
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