WordValeunilateral
done by one side without the agreement of others
In more detail
1. (adjective) done by one side or person only, without agreement from the other side
2. (adjective) affecting or involving only one side of something
Examples
- 1. The company made a unilateral decision to close the factory without consulting the workers.
- 2. The patient had unilateral hearing loss in his left ear.
How to use unilateral
Unilateral is used in formal and professional contexts—especially diplomatic, legal, and business settings—to describe actions taken by one party without consultation or consent from others. It often carries a connotation of assertiveness or even disregard for the other party's interests. The term is also used in anatomy to describe something affecting one side of the body.
Common phrases
- unilateral decision
- unilateral action
- unilateral withdrawal
- unilateral agreement
- unilateral contract
Synonyms
one-sided · unilateral · independent · single-handed · autonomous
Opposites
bilateral · multilateral · mutual
Word family
unilaterally (adverb) · unilateralism (noun) · bilateralism (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse unilateral with bilateral or think unilateral means something is balanced or fair when in fact it suggests the opposite—that one side has acted without the agreement or input of the other.
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