multinational, a. and n.
(mʌltɪˈnæʃənəl)
[f. multi- + national a. and n.]
A. adj. a. Comprising or pertaining to many nationalities or ethnic groups. b. Possessing branches, factories, offices, etc., in many countries. B. n. A multinational company. So multiˈnationally adv.; multiˈnationalism, the realm of multinational companies.
| 1926 Time 17 May 14 A majority of the multi-national citizens of what is now Hungary. 1940 Mind XLIX. 117 Their inequality makes for an intrinsic instability in their relations which causes one to regret the passing of the multi-national Empires, like Austria and Russia, with their stabilising effect. 1957 Times Lit. Suppl. 25 Oct. 635/2 The volume contains in fact five separate essays—on the beginnings of the American nation..on the problems of a multi-national nation [etc.]. 1961 New Scientist 23 Mar. 733/1 There will be an important multi-national programme of space research, starting in 1962. 1962 Economist 15 Dec. 1108/3 Assignments to multinational organisations should be up-graded. 1963 Guardian 19 Mar. 11/4 A multinational force would be one composed of Service units already in existence... Multilateral would mean manning.., for example, Polaris surface ships with mixed crews. 1964 Economist 17 Oct. 271/2 Very few such companies..seem..to think ‘multi-nationally’. 1968 Listener 12 Dec. 783/1 The multinational firm transcends national boundaries..through the establishment of subsidiaries in foreign countries. 1971 C. Tugendhat (title) The multinationals. 1971 Rand Daily Mail 4 Dec. 12/2 There are plans for extra senates and supra-parliaments and multinational assemblies. 1972 Listener 18 May 652/2 Yours is a multinational group. What are the prospects for multinationalism? 1973 Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 22 June 23/2 The five multi-national pilots—as her name implies the Europa is a truly European airship. 1975 Bookseller 18 Jan. 155/1 (Advt.), To manipulate the takeover of the Holmes Motor Corporation by an American multi-national and to destroy a rival spying network. |