multidisciplinary

USAGE SUMMARY

'multidisciplinary' is a correct word that is usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means "involving several different areas of knowledge or study". For example, you could say: "This research project requires a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from a variety of fields to produce a comprehensive solution".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At Aston he established an international reputation in academic circles when he assembled and led a multidisciplinary team in research that became known as the Aston Studies, which lasted from 1963 until 1968.

The Guardian - Business

In April, the £25m Home will open its doors, giving Manchester the largest multidisciplinary artistic hub outside of London.

The Guardian

Instead, he supports a humanistic, multidisciplinary model of management education.

The New York Times

This highly multidisciplinary approach continued with her three PhD supervisors being experts in molecular biology, chemistry and physics.

The Economist

It actively collaborates through multidisciplinary courses and research with other parts of Stanford University.

The Economist

MULTIDISCIPLINARY science is all the rage these days.

The Economist

The plan is to promote a multidisciplinary forum for exploring new approaches that balance our desire for "urban comfort" with our need to be more environmentally responsible.This is all well and good.

The Economist

Chinese experts have extraordinarily narrow training, have little ability to think horizontally or to integrate multidisciplinary information.

The Economist

They can quickly create sustainable competitive advantage over slower-moving rivals, while also using their brand and customer relations to make life hard for aggressive newcomers.Scient has recruited an impressive multidisciplinary team of nearly 250, including some of the brightest and best from IBM.

The Economist

For good or for ill, multidisciplinary behemoths like Deloitte seem to be the future of professional services.

The Economist

This sort of pragmatism or so Rorty argued in "Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature"—demotes philosophy to just one form of edifying conversation among many.In 1982, three years after the book was published, Rorty left the philosophy department of Princeton University to become a multidisciplinary professor of the humanities at the University of Virginia.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "multidisciplinary" to emphasize a deliberate combination of fields aimed at solving a complex problem.

Common error

Avoid using "multidisciplinary" and "interdisciplinary" interchangeably. "Multidisciplinary" involves parallel work across disciplines, while "interdisciplinary" focuses on integrating insights and methods from different fields.

Linguistic Context

The term "multidisciplinary" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something that involves or combines several academic disciplines or professional specializations. Ludwig AI confirms this based on the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "multidisciplinary" is an adjective used to describe approaches, studies, or teams that involve multiple distinct academic disciplines or areas of expertise. It is grammatically correct and frequently appears in academic, scientific, and professional contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. While similar to "interdisciplinary", it emphasizes the parallel contributions of different fields rather than their integrated synthesis. When using "multidisciplinary", ensure clarity by specifying the involved disciplines. Remember, according to Ludwig, a "multidisciplinary" approach highlights the breadth of knowledge applied to a complex problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interdisciplinary

Focuses on the interaction and integration of different disciplines.

cross-disciplinary

Highlights the crossing of boundaries between disciplines.

transdisciplinary

Implies a holistic approach that transcends individual disciplines.

integrative

Emphasizes the combination of different elements into a unified whole.

comprehensive

Stresses the inclusion of all relevant aspects or perspectives.

holistic

Focuses on the interconnectedness and interdependence of elements.

multifaceted

Highlights the many different aspects or dimensions of something.

interconnected

Emphasizes the relationships and links between different parts.

collaborative

Focuses on the joint effort and cooperation between different fields.

cross-functional

Highlights the involvement of different functional areas within an organization.

FAQs

How is "multidisciplinary" used in academic writing?

In academic writing, "multidisciplinary" is used to describe research, studies, or approaches that combine knowledge and methods from various academic disciplines to address a specific question or problem. It emphasizes the collaboration of experts from different fields working in parallel. For example: "This research requires a "multidisciplinary approach".

What are some fields that benefit from a "multidisciplinary" approach?

Many fields benefit from a "multidisciplinary" approach, including environmental science, healthcare, engineering, and social sciences. These fields often require expertise from various disciplines to understand complex problems and develop effective solutions.

What's the difference between "multidisciplinary" and interdisciplinary?

"Multidisciplinary" involves experts from different fields working independently on a problem, while "interdisciplinary" research integrates knowledge and methods from different disciplines to create a new, unified approach. The key difference is the level of integration and synthesis.

Can you give me examples of how a "multidisciplinary team" works?

A "multidisciplinary team" might consist of engineers, biologists, and economists working on a project. Each professional brings their unique expertise to address different aspects of the problem, but they don't necessarily integrate their approaches into a single framework. A similar term is "interdisciplinary".