multinational: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “multinational” mean?
Involving or operating in several countries or nations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Involving or operating in several countries or nations.
Often used to describe large corporations with operations, offices, or assets in multiple countries. Also describes populations, teams, or events composed of people from many nations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the corporate sense can carry neutral (efficient, global) or negative (exploitative, rootless) connotations depending on context.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both business and political/academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “multinational” in a Sentence
[Adj.] multinational + noun (e.g., corporation, team)[Noun] operated by a multinationalVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “multinational” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The verb 'to multinationalise' is rare and non-standard. Use phrases like 'expand internationally' instead.
American English
- The verb 'to multinationalize' is rare and non-standard. Use phrases like 'go global' instead.
adverb
British English
- The adverb 'multinationally' is extremely rare and not recommended for use.
- They operate multinationally. (Grammatically possible but unnatural; prefer 'internationally'.)
American English
- The adverb 'multinationally' is rarely used.
- The firm is structured multinationally. (Awkward; prefer 'globally'.)
adjective
British English
- It is a major multinational corporation with a base in London.
- A multinational peacekeeping force was deployed.
American English
- The multinational company is headquartered in New York.
- They formed a multinational alliance for the project.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Standard term for a company operating in multiple countries, e.g., 'The multinational is headquartered in Switzerland.'
Academic
Used in economics, political science, and sociology to discuss globalisation and corporate power.
Everyday
Common in news and general discussion about large companies, e.g., 'She works for a multinational.'
Technical
In military/political contexts, describes forces or missions involving multiple nations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “multinational”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “multinational”
- Using 'international' as a direct synonym in all contexts (a subtle difference: 'international' implies relations between nations, 'multinational' implies operations within many nations).
- Misspelling as 'multi-national' (hyphenated form is less common in modern usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily an adjective (e.g., a multinational company). It is also commonly used as a countable noun (e.g., 'the big multinationals') to refer to the corporations themselves.
'International' emphasizes interaction between nations. 'Multinational' emphasizes having a physical/legal presence within many nations. 'Global' is broader, suggesting a worldwide scope or strategy, not necessarily multiple legal entities.
The modern standard is as one word: 'multinational'. The hyphenated form 'multi-national' is now considered dated, though sometimes seen.
Yes, in certain contexts (e.g., political or critical discourse) it can imply corporate power that undermines national sovereignty, exploits labour, or avoids taxes. Context determines the connotation.
Involving or operating in several countries or nations.
Multinational is usually formal/neutral in register.
Multinational: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmʌl.tiˈnæʃ.ən.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmʌl.tiˈnæʃ.ən.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A true multinational”
- “The multinational juggernaut”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MULTI (many) + NATIONAL (countries) = operating in many countries.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORPORATION AS A NATION-STATE (e.g., 'The multinational has its own laws and economy.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'multinational' LEAST appropriate?