Origin: Latin suffix -al
Multinational has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
A multinational company.
"The multinational corporation opened new offices in three different countries last year."
involving or operating in several nations or nationalities
"multinational corporations"
"transnational terrorist networks"
Of, or involving more than two countries.
"The multinational treaty was signed by representatives from over fifty nations to protect global biodiversity."
In plain English: Multinational means something that operates across many different countries around the world.
"The multinational corporation employs thousands of workers across different countries."
Usage: Do not confuse this term with "international," which refers to matters between any number of nations rather than specifically those spanning multiple sovereign states. Use "multinational" when emphasizing operations that cross national borders, such as a corporation active in several different countries.
The word multinational combines the prefix multi- with national to describe something involving multiple nations. It entered English as a straightforward compound formation without a significant shift from its original meaning.