Multilateral is a nine-letter word with four syllables. The phonetic transcription of this word is /ˌmʌltiˈlætərəl/. The word is pronounced as mul-tee-lat-er-uhl. The first syllable is stressed, with a short ‘u’ sound followed by a soft ‘t’. The second syllable has a short ‘i’ sound, and the third syllable has a soft ‘a’. The final syllable is pronounced with a short ‘u’ sound, followed by a ‘l’ sound and a soft ‘r’. Multilateral means involving many parties or nations.
The term "multilateral" refers to a concept or situation that involves the participation, cooperation, or agreement of multiple nations or parties. It describes an approach or system that emphasizes the involvement and collaboration of numerous countries or entities in addressing a particular issue, solving a problem, or making decisions. The term is derived from the Latin words "multi" (meaning many) and "latus" (meaning side), indicating that it pertains to activities involving multiple sides or partners.
In international relations, a multilateral agreement or treaty is one that involves several countries as signatories, each committed to the agreement's terms and objectives. These agreements are often established to address global issues such as climate change, human rights, peacekeeping, trade, disarmament, or public health. In this context, multilateralism promotes the idea of shared responsibility and collective action among nations, recognizing that addressing complex global challenges effectively requires the cooperation of multiple actors.
The multilateral approach emphasizes the principles of equality, inclusiveness, consensus-building, and diplomacy. It aims to create an environment where nations can negotiate, resolve conflicts, and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes through dialogue and collaboration. Multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, or World Health Organization, serve as platforms for countries to engage in multilateral cooperation and decision-making.
In summary, "multilateral" refers to activities, agreements, or systems that involve the participation and collaboration of numerous nations or entities, with the goal of collectively addressing global challenges and promoting mutual benefit.
Having many, or more than four, sides.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word multilateral is derived from Latin. It originates from the Latin words multi meaning many or multiple, and latus meaning side or direction. Thus, multilateral essentially means involving many sides or having multiple directions.