multipolar
nounEtymology From multi- + polar.
1
An electromagnetic machine in which several magnetic poles exist.
multipolar
adjUK /mʌltiˈpəʊlə/
Etymology From multi- + polar.
2
Government, Politics Of or relating to an international system in which a number of states wield most of the cultural, economic, and political influence.
- If we are mainly concerned, on the contrary, with preventing any rapid escalation of the two-power arms competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, a shift toward a multi-polar world may appear preferable.1964 April, Karl W. Deutsch and J. David Singer, “Multipolar Power Systems and International Stability”, in World Politics, volume 16, number 3, →DOI, page 403:
- The first diagram reveals a multi-polar system, in which a plurality of forces and interests balance each other in precarious equilibrium.2012, Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers, Penguin, published 2013, page 121:
1 more example
- Mr. Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, like to claim that we now live in a multipolar world.2022 February 23, Madeleine Albright, “Putin Is Making a Historic Mistake”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
- Related terms
- multipolarity, tripolar