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
Michael Brenes, Foreign Affairs, 28 Jan. 2025
Alongside strengthening Japan-U.S. ties—long regarded by Tokyo as the cornerstone of its foreign and security policies—Ishiba aims to advance multilateral partnerships.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Fresh funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other multilateral organizations, along with real economy investments, are a necessary next step, together with regaining market access, if Caputo and Milei are looking to avoid a sequel of Macri’s 2018 debacle.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Yet, from Copenhagen to Shanghai, industry players across the fashion spectrum continue to embrace the spirit of multilateral cooperation, determined to steer the industry toward the next milestone in sustainable development.
—Li Jun, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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multilateral
adjective
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