multinational
multinational — adjective
1. involving operations or activities that take place across several different coun
involving operations or activities that take place across several different countries — for example, a multinational corporation with factories on different continents or a multinational peacekeeping force with troops from many nations.
The multinational peacekeeping force included soldiers from twelve different countries.
multinational + noun: peacekeeping force / corporation
Yuki's marketing team worked on a multinational campaign that covered seven countries across three continents.
After several international acquisitions, the local firm grew into a multinational corporation with factories in Asia and Europe.
Maeve found that negotiating multinational trade regulations required patience and a good legal team.
The multinational research project connected universities from Japan, Brazil, and Germany to study ocean pollution.
- international
broader term — any cross-border activity, not just operations in multiple countries
- global
suggests worldwide reach rather than simply several countries; stronger emphasis on planet-wide scale
- transnational
slightly more formal and academic; emphasises activity that crosses or transcends national borders
文法句型
multinational + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears before nouns such as corporation, company, force, agreement, or project. Unlike 'international,' which can describe any cross-border activity, 'multinational' implies concrete operations or presence in several countries simultaneously.
常見錯誤
multinational — noun
1. a large business organization whose operations span numerous countries around th
a large business organization whose operations span numerous countries around the world, typically with a central headquarters in one country and branches, factories, or offices spread across others.
The multinational announced plans to open a new research centre in Nairobi.
multinational + verb: announces / plans / expands
Kofi spent ten years working for a pharmaceutical multinational before starting his own business.
Environmental groups have been putting pressure on large multinationals to reduce their carbon emissions.
The European multinational operates factories in India, Mexico, and Vietnam.
Anong's job at the multinational involved coordinating supply chains across four different continents.
- global corporation
emphasises worldwide reach; slightly more informal
- transnational corporation
academic or legal term; stresses operations that transcend national boundaries
- international company
broader term — may just export products without having offices in other countries
- local business
a company that serves only its immediate area
- small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)
a business with limited scale and no international operations
文法句型
a/an + multinational
the + multinational
multinational + verb (singular/plural)
用法筆記
In spoken or less formal contexts, 'global company' or 'international company' may replace 'multinational.' The noun is a shortening of 'multinational company' or 'multinational corporation,' and it is always countable (a multinational / two multinationals).