multilateralistn.adj.
/ˌmʌltɪˈlat(ə)rəlɪst/, /ˌmʌltɪˈlat(ə)rl̩ɪst/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈlædərələst/, /ˌməltiˈlætrələst/; see also multi- comb. form. Chiefly Politics.
A. n.
An adherent or advocate of multilateralism.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > disarmament > [noun] > advocate of
disarmer1898
unilateralist1927
multilateralist1947
unilateral disarmer1960
1947 Amer. Econ. Rev. 37 588 I will return to the heavenly hosts of the multilateralists by attacking the position of their adversaries.
1960 Guardian 11 Oct. 11/1 I am resolutely opposed to urging any member of the Labour party to resign because he is a unilateralist or a multilateralist.
1992 C. J. Bartlett Special Relationship (BNC) 33 The multilateralists in Washington had been compelled to settle for much less than they would have liked.
B. adj.
Of, relating to, or characteristic of multilateralism; multilateral.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > peace > pacification > disarmament > [adjective]
unilateralist1959
multilateralist1960
zero-zero1982
1960 News Chron. 7 Oct. 6/3 How ought we ‘multilateralist’ Labour MPs to vote on defence?
1983 Listener 28 Apr. 4/3 He then proceeds to argue a detailed multilateralist case.
1995 Guardian 6 Oct. i. 7/2 A multilateralist motion was passed amid angry condemnation of France's resumed nuclear testing and a moderate motion passed on the need to control the arms trade.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1947