WorldAugust 19, 2026
multilateralize
MULL-ti-LAT-uh-ruh-lize
Definition
To involve or include multiple parties or nations in a process, negotiation, or agreement that was previously handled between only two.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'multus' (many) and 'latus' (side), combined with the suffix '-ize' to indicate the act of making something into a state or form involving multiple sides.
In the news
The article references the UN Handbook on Maritime Boundary Delimitation, which cautions that involving a third state in bilateral boundary talks could 'multilateralize' the process and complicate a sensitive negotiation.
As Tokyo and Manila Talk Boundaries, Beijing Breaks Them
Read the full article ↗Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative