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
Laura Paddison, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024
The limits on Iran's uranium enrichment, centrifuge production and other related areas set by the multilateral nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have increasingly collapsed since Trump abandoned the accord in 2018.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2024
In the hopeful period after the end of the Cold War, China, Russia, and the United States, along with all other nuclear weapons states, signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a multilateral agreement to stop all explosive nuclear testing.
—Madelyn Creedon, Foreign Affairs, 20 Nov. 2024
They can be issued by corporations, states, municipalities, or multilateral organizations like the World Bank.
—Christer Holloman, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Multilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multilateral. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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multilateral
adjective
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