1. a system or approach in which three or more countries or parties cooperate and make decisions together, rather than acting independently or in pairs
Usage: commonly used in international relations and diplomacy; often contrasted with unilateralism and bilateralism

Examples

• The United Nations is built on the principle of multilateralism, bringing together many nations to address global issues.
• Trade agreements based on multilateralism benefit all participating countries more fairly than bilateral deals.
• The organization advocates for multilateralism in climate negotiations rather than individual national efforts.
• Multilateralism requires compromise and consensus-building among diverse stakeholders.
• After years of unilateral policies, the administration shifted toward multilateralism in foreign affairs.
• International institutions like the World Bank promote multilateralism in economic development.