adjective
Uncommon
unilateral
y-nih-LAT-uh-r
Unilateral (adjective) means Undertaken by only one side or party, without agreement from others involved. Example: “The country made a unilateral decision to withdraw its troops.”
adjective
1
Undertaken by only one side or party, without agreement from others involved.
"The country made a unilateral decision to withdraw its troops."
"Critics accused the CEO of making unilateral changes without consulting the board."
How to use unilateral
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDone by just one side, without the input or agreement of the other parties involved.
Common mistake
Often contrasted with "bilateral" (two sides) and "multilateral" (many sides) in political and legal contexts.
Easily confused with
bilateral →
multilateral
Common pairings
unilateral decision
unilateral action
unilateral ceasefire
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more unilateral
- Superlative
- most unilateral
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The country made a _____ decision to withdraw its troops.
Etymology
Coined around 1802 from New Latin unilateralis, from Latin unus ("one") + lateralis ("sided").
Class of 1802
unilateral joined the language around 1802.
See the full Class of 1802 →
Synonyms
View more →
one-sided
Antonyms
multilateral
Related words
Rhymes for unilateral
See all rhymes for unilateral →Frequently asked questions
What does “unilateral” mean?
The word “unilateral” means undertaken by only one side or party, without agreement from others involved. In plain terms, done by just one side, without the input or agreement of the other parties involved.
How do you pronounce “unilateral”?
“Unilateral” is pronounced y-nih-LAT-uh-r ([ˌjʉː.nəˈɫæɾ.ɚ.ɻɫ̩] in IPA).
How do you use “unilateral” in a sentence?
Here is “unilateral” used in a sentence: “The country made a unilateral decision to withdraw its troops.”
What is another word for “unilateral”?
Words with a similar meaning to “unilateral” include one-sided.
What part of speech is “unilateral”?
“Unilateral” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unilateral” come from?
The word “unilateral” dates back to around 1802 and comes from New Latin. Coined around 1802 from New Latin unilateralis, from Latin unus ("one") + lateralis ("sided").
Is “unilateral” a common word?
“Unilateral” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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