multilingual
nounEtymology From multi- + lingual.
1
A polyglot.
multilingual
adj/ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/ · /ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡju.əl/
Etymology From multi- + lingual.
1
Of, relating to, or involving multiple languages.
- In reality, the multidimensionality of language contact in multilingual environments ensures no such neat compartmentalisation.2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 9:
- Wikipedia is the most ambitious multilingual project after the Bible: There are editions in over 340 languages, and a further 400 even more obscure ones are being developed and tested.2025 September 25, Jacob Judah, “How AI and Wikipedia have sent vulnerable languages into a doom spiral”, in MIT Technology Review:
2
Of a person Able to communicate in a number of languages.
- So being multilingual can make you more appealing, more successful and more compassionate. And it’s also good for your health.2017 April 2, Maureen O'Hare, “Does being bilingual make you sexy?”, in CNN:
- Describing us as multilingual emphasizes our achievements and that learning English adds to the richness of our identity.2021 December 18, Ching Ching Tan, “Spielberg’s West Side Story shows us the value of multilingualism”, in CNN:
- Derived terms
- multilingualization, multilingualize, multilingually, multilingualness, multilingual notation
- Related terms
- language, multilingualism