Multidisciplinary
What it means
Drawing on knowledge or methods from several distinct fields.
Reach for it when describing a team or project where multiple disciplines contribute
A multidisciplinary team designed the rehabilitation program.
Words to choose between 9
| everyday | |
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| warm | |
| professional |
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| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
mixed-discipline
Fits when plain language should identify varied fields
Careful The phrase is less established and can sound like internal jargon.
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warm
Fits when people work jointly toward a result
Careful Collaboration can occur entirely within one discipline.
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professional
cross-disciplinary
Fits when work crosses established field boundaries
Careful Cross-disciplinary is broad and may involve only two fields.
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professional
Fits when components or fields are deliberately joined into one approach
Careful Integrated is a stronger claim than parallel multidisciplinary input.
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professional
Fits when disciplines actively integrate methods or concepts
Careful Multidisciplinary work can place contributions side by side without full integration.
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professional
multi-specialist
Fits when several kinds of specialist contribute
Careful The uncommon term focuses on people and not integration of knowledge.
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professional
team-based
Fits when coordinated roles among people are central
Careful A team can be multidisciplinary or consist of one profession.
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formal
Fits when support or knowledge comes from a wide foundation
Careful Broad-based does not identify distinct disciplines.
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literary
many-sided
Fits when varied perspectives rather than formal fields matter
Careful Many-sided is imprecise and can describe the problem instead of the team.
Opposites 3
- single-discipline
- monodisciplinary
- siloed
Common phrases 3
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multidisciplinary team
The multidisciplinary team included nurses, engineers, and service designers.
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multidisciplinary approach
A multidisciplinary approach exposed both structural and behavioral causes.
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multidisciplinary research
The grant supports multidisciplinary research without forcing premature integration.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Multidisciplinary means several disciplines contribute. Use interdisciplinary only when their methods or concepts are actually integrated.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neøn, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated