Large companies that operate in many different countries around the world, not just in one nation.
From multi- (many) + nationals (relating to nations), combining Latin multus (many) with nation. This term became common in the mid-20th century as businesses expanded globally.
Some multinationals are so large that their revenue exceeds the GDP of entire countries—Apple alone has more economic power than many nations, which raises fascinating questions about corporate influence on global politics!
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