multidisciplinary

multidisciplinary — adjective

1. bringing together knowledge, skills, or methods from several different academic

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

bringing together knowledge, skills, or methods from several different academic or professional fields to work on a single problem, project, or activity.

Example

The University of Nairobi runs a multidisciplinary research centre focused on climate change.

attributive use before noun: multidisciplinary + noun

Leila enjoys the multidisciplinary nature of the course, which combines art, history, and engineering.

collocation: multidisciplinary + nature / approach

Common collocations
  • multidisciplinary team
  • multidisciplinary approach
  • multidisciplinary research
  • multidisciplinary centre
  • multidisciplinary project
  • multidisciplinary group
Synonyms
  • interdisciplinary

    very similar meaning, but 'interdisciplinary' often implies deeper integration between fields rather than fields working side by side

  • cross-disciplinary

    less common than 'multidisciplinary'; emphasises movement across traditional subject boundaries

  • multifaceted

    broader meaning — can apply to anything with many aspects, not only academic or professional fields

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

multidisciplinary + noun

Usage Note

Typically used attributively directly before a noun (e.g. a multidisciplinary team, multidisciplinary research). Cannot be used with comparative or superlative forms.

Common Mistakes

The project is very multidisciplinary in its design.
The project has a multidisciplinary design.
'multidisciplinary' is not usually graded with 'very' or 'quite'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that draws on more than one area of expertise, but they differ in scope and emphasis. 'Multidisciplinary' — the most common in academic and professional writing — describes several fields contributing to a single project while largely staying within their own methods. 'Interdisciplinary' goes a step further: it implies that the fields actively blend their methods and insights. 'Cross-disciplinary' is less common and usually refers to a person or approach that moves across boundaries rather than a team arrangement. 'Multifaceted' is much broader and can apply to anything with many sides (a personality, a problem, a gem), not only academic fields. 'Multiskilled' describes a single person with abilities in several areas, not a group. For describing a research centre where biologists, economists, and engineers each contribute separate expertise, 'multidisciplinary' is the most precise choice. A project that requires all members to learn each other's methods would be better called 'interdisciplinary.'

interdisciplinary ↗cross-disciplinarymultifacetedmultiskilled

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • take a multidisciplinary approach to
  • work in a multidisciplinary team
  • adopt a multidisciplinary perspective

Prepositions

  • multidisciplinary in [its approach / its design]

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word is formed from the prefix 'multi-' (many, from Latin multus) and 'disciplinary' (relating to a field of study, from Latin disciplina meaning 'instruction' or 'knowledge'). It first appeared in English in the mid-20th century as universities began creating programmes that crossed traditional subject boundaries.