multidimensional

IPA/ˌmʌltidaɪˈmenʃənl/
IPA/ˌmʌltidaɪˈmenʃənl/

multidimensional — adjective

  • multidimensionalpositive
  • more multidimensionalcomparative
  • most multidimensionalsuperlative

1. involving many connected qualities or aspects that you need to consider in order

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

involving many connected qualities or aspects that you need to consider in order to understand something completely

Example

The team created a multidimensional model of the city's economy to guide policy decisions.

collocation: multidimensional model

Hamza's book offers a multidimensional view of the war, covering soldiers, civilians, and diplomats.

collocation: multidimensional view of [topic]

Common collocations
  • a multidimensional approach
  • a multidimensional view
  • a multidimensional model
  • a multidimensional problem
  • a multidimensional character
  • a multidimensional analysis
Synonyms
  • multifaceted

    very similar in meaning; 'multifaceted' emphasises many sides or facets, while 'multidimensional' emphasises interacting aspects

  • layered

    suggests hidden depth, often used for stories, art, or personalities that reveal more on closer inspection

  • complex

    a more common word; 'complex' implies something is difficult to understand because parts are connected, while 'multidimensional' highlights variety of aspects rather than difficulty

Antonyms
  • one-dimensional

    direct opposite; lacking depth, variety, or multiple aspects

  • simple

    opposite in the sense of having few aspects or being easy to describe

Usage Note

Common in formal and academic writing. Frequently paired with nouns such as 'approach', 'view', 'model', 'problem', or 'character' to describe something with many connected aspects.

Common Mistakes

This book is very multidimensional.
This book offers a multidimensional view of history.
'multidimensional' works best as a modifier of a noun like 'view', 'approach', or 'analysis', not as a standalone description of a thing.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Multidimensional', 'multifaceted', 'layered', 'complex', and 'varied' all describe something with many parts, but they differ in nuance. 'Multidimensional' (from 'dimensions' = aspects) suggests that the parts interact and must be considered together; it is the most formal of the group. 'Multifaceted' (from 'facets' = sides) focuses on visible sides or features, like a cut gem. 'Layered' implies that deeper levels exist beneath the surface, common for stories, music, or personalities. 'Complex' highlights difficulty or intricacy and is less neutral than 'multidimensional'. 'Varied' is the simplest and most general — it means 'of different kinds' without suggesting interconnection. For example, a critic might praise a 'multidimensional novel' (many interconnected themes), a 'layered novel' (hidden meanings), or a 'complex novel' (hard to follow).

multifaceted ↗layered ↗complex ↗varied ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • highly multidimensional
  • truly multidimensional
  • incredibly multidimensional

Phrases

  • a multidimensional way of thinking
  • a multidimensional understanding of

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Formed from the prefix 'multi-' (from Latin 'multus' meaning 'many') and 'dimensional' (from Latin 'dimensio' meaning 'a measuring'). First recorded in English in the late 1800s as a geometric term for objects with several physical dimensions. By the mid-1900s it had broadened to describe anything with many interconnected aspects or qualities.

First known use

1884

1884, in the meaning defined above