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International Relations & Diplomacy vocabulary · International Organisations

United Nations

Meaning in international relations & diplomacy, with examples

/juˌnaɪtɪd ˈneɪʃənz/nounCore term

In international relations & diplomacy, United Nations means: The global organisation set up in 1945 to keep international peace and security, build friendly relations between nations and encourage cooperation; almost every state is a member.

In Turkish: Birleşmiş Milletler, BM

How it is used

Usually shortened to 'the UN', always with 'the'. It has 193 member states, and its main organs include the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat and the International Court of Justice. Its founding document is the UN Charter.

Example sentences

  1. The United Nations has called on both parties to return to the negotiating table.

  2. She worked for a United Nations agency in Geneva for six years.

  3. Every member of the United Nations has one vote in the General Assembly.

Common collocations

  • UN Charter
  • UN agency
  • UN member states
  • UN-backed
  • UN special envoy
  • Security CouncilThe UN organ with primary responsibility for international peace and security. It has 15 members and can take decisions, such as sanctions, that all UN member states must carry out.
  • General AssemblyThe main body of the United Nations in which all 193 member states are represented, each with one vote; it discusses global issues and adopts resolutions and the UN budget.
  • Secretary-GeneralThe head of the United Nations Secretariat and the UN's chief administrative officer; the title is also used for the heads of other organisations, such as NATO.
  • member stateA country that belongs to an international organisation such as the UN or the EU, with the rights and duties that membership brings.
  • resolutionA formal decision or statement adopted by vote or consensus in a body such as the UN Security Council or General Assembly, expressing a position or requiring action.

More terms: International Organisations

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