Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Involving only one side or party: Describes an action, decision, or agreement undertaken or performed by only one person, group, or nation, without the agreement or participation of others.
   • Affecting only one side of the body or a single part: Used in medical or biological contexts to describe something that occurs on or affects only one side.

Usage

• The adjective "unilateral" is used to modify nouns, indicating that the noun involves or is characterized by action from a single side.
• It often carries a formal or legal tone and can imply a lack of consultation or reciprocity.
• Common collocations include: , , .

Examples

• General Use:
  • The country's unilateral withdrawal from the treaty surprised its allies.
  • He made a unilateral decision to sell the company asset.
• Medical/Biological Use:
  • The patient suffered from unilateral hearing loss.
  • The disease caused unilateral paralysis of the face.

Advanced Usage

• "unilateralism" (n): A policy or doctrine of taking action, especially in international affairs, based on one's own interests without seeking cooperation or agreement from other nations.
  • The administration was criticized for its unilateralism in foreign policy.
• "unilaterally" (adv): In a way that involves only one side.
  • The government acted unilaterally to impose new sanctions.

Variants and Related Words

• Bilateral (adj): Involving two sides or parties.
  • The two nations signed a bilateral trade agreement.
• Multilateral (adj): Involving several or many sides or parties.
  • The issue was resolved through multilateral negotiations.

Synonyms

• One-sided: Favoring one side; not reciprocal.
• Independent: Not influenced or controlled by others (in some contexts of self-determined action).

Antonyms

• Bilateral: Involving two sides.
• Multilateral: Involving multiple sides.
• Reciprocal: Given or done in return; mutual.

Related Phrases

• Unilateral contract: A contract where only one party makes a promise that is legally binding, typically in exchange for an act from the other party.
  • A reward offer is a classic example of a unilateral contract.
• Unilateral disarmament: The act of a country reducing or eliminating its weapons without a reciprocal agreement from other nations.
  • The activist group advocated for unilateral disarmament as a gesture of peace.

Adjective

1. tracing descent from either the paternal or the maternal line only
2. involving only one part or side
   • unilateral paralysis
   • a unilateral decision