adj

lateral

LAT-ruhl

adj

Relating to, or situated at, the side of something.

"The surgeon made a lateral incision along the knee."

"A lateral move at work means changing roles without a promotion."

Unconventional or indirect, especially in thinking.

"Solving the puzzle required some lateral thinking."

noun

(American football) A sideways pass.

"The running back tossed a lateral to his teammate."

verb

(American football) To throw a sideways pass.

"He lateraled the ball just before being tackled."

How to Use Lateral

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do with the side of something, or a sideways move — literal or in thinking/career terms.

Common pairings

lateral thinking lateral move throw a lateral

more lateral comparative, lateraled past tense, lateralled past tense, laterals plural, laterals singular, most lateral superlative

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The surgeon made a _____ incision along the knee.

From Latin laterālis, "belonging to the side", from latus ("the side, flank").

longitudinal vertical

horizontal vertical

feral general liberal funeral mineral federal several visceral ephemeral bilateral collateral unilateral

longitudinal vertical horizontal