adj
Common
bilateral
beye-LA-tuh-ruhl
Bilateral (adj) means involving two sides or two parties equally. Example: “The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.”
adj
1
Involving two sides or two parties equally.
"The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement."
"They reached a bilateral ceasefire after months of negotiation."
"The bilateral talks between the two companies ended with a joint statement."
2
Having matching left and right sides, as in body structure.
"Most animals, including humans, show bilateral symmetry."
"Butterflies have bilateral symmetry, so their left and right wings match."
"The doctor noticed bilateral swelling in both of his ankles."
How to use bilateral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInvolving two sides — most often used for agreements between two countries or organizations.
Easily confused with
multilateral
unilateral →
Common pairings
bilateral agreement
bilateral talks
bilateral symmetry
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Word forms
- Plural
- bilaterals
- Comparative
- more bilateral
- Superlative
- most bilateral
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two countries signed a _____ trade agreement.
Etymology
From bi- ("two") plus lateral ("relating to a side").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bilateral
See all rhymes for bilateral →Frequently asked questions
What does “bilateral” mean?
The word “bilateral” means involving two sides or two parties equally. In plain terms, involving two sides — most often used for agreements between two countries or organizations.
How do you pronounce “bilateral”?
“Bilateral” is pronounced beye-LA-tuh-ruhl (/baɪˈlætəɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “bilateral” in a sentence?
Here is “bilateral” used in a sentence: “The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.”
What part of speech is “bilateral”?
“Bilateral” is an adjective.
Where does the word “bilateral” come from?
The word “bilateral” comes from Latin. From bi- ("two") plus lateral ("relating to a side").
Is “bilateral” a common word?
“Bilateral” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bilateral” have?
“Bilateral” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: involving two sides or two parties equally.
What is the difference between bilateral and multilateral?
Bilateral describes something involving two sides or parties equally, such as a bilateral trade agreement between two countries, while multilateral involves three or more parties. The distinction is common in diplomatic and business contexts.
What does bilateral mean in a medical context?
In medical contexts, bilateral describes something affecting matching left and right sides of the body, such as bilateral hearing loss affecting both ears. This differs from unilateral, which affects only one side.
What is an example of a bilateral agreement?
A bilateral agreement is one made directly between two countries or organizations, such as a bilateral trade deal that sets terms exclusively between those two parties, rather than involving multiple nations at once.
