multiplace

Multiplace is an adjective and noun used to describe equipment, vehicles, or arrangements designed to accommodate more than one occupant. The term is common in technical domains such as aviation and scuba diving, where it designates multi-seat capacity or interconnected equipment intended for use by several people. The word derives from French multiplace and ultimately from Latin roots meaning many places or seats.

In aviation, multiplace denotes aircraft designed to carry multiple crew or passengers. Historically the term described two- or three-place machines used for training, observation, or light transport, and it remains a feature in historical literature and discussions of design concepts. Modern airframes are typically described by exact seating capacity rather than the label multiplace, but the term persists in archival documents and specialized contexts.

In scuba diving, multiplace diving refers to a breathing-gas system intended for multiple divers to share. A multiplace underwater breathing apparatus (MUBA) may involve two to four divers connected to a common gas source via a manifold, with each diver carrying a primary gas and a bailout. Multiplace configurations are used by commercial and technical diving teams, enabling operation in overhead environments. Gas management, redundancy, and safety protocols are essential because the equipment is more complex than single-occupant sets.

Beyond aviation and diving, multiplace is sometimes used to describe spaces or facilities with several workstations or occupant positions, though this usage is less common and often replaced by more specific terms such as multi-seat or multi-occupant.

See also: multi-seat, dual-seat, three-seat, underwater breathing apparatus, multiplace diving.