bilateral
gb/baɪlˈætɚəl/ us/baɪlˈætɚəl/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
involving two parties
Bilateral means involving two sides, especially two countries or organizations.
Usage pattern:
bilateral [agreement/talks/relations] between [two countries/organizations]
Common mistake:
Do not use bilateral for three or more sides; use multilateral. Do not confuse it with bilingual.
Synonyms
two-way (more general and less formal)
|
mutual (emphasizes shared participation or benefit)
|
reciprocal (emphasizes actions or obligations going both ways)
Antonyms
unilateral (done by one side alone)
|
multilateral (involving three or more sides)
Collocations
bilateral agreement
|bilateral talks
|bilateral relations
|bilateral trade
|bilateral cooperation
|bilateral negotiations
|bilateral treaty
|bilateral meeting
|bilateral ties
|bilateral partnership
Themes
politics
|business
|international_relations
|law
Examples
- The two governments opened bilateral talks on border security.
- The company is seeking a bilateral partnership with a local distributor.
- Relations improved after the countries signed several bilateral deals.
Learner examples
- The two countries made a bilateral agreement.
- Bilateral talks involve two sides.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
affecting both body sides
In medicine, bilateral means on both the left and right sides.
Usage pattern:
bilateral [pain/injury/hearing loss/surgery] in [body part]
Common mistake:
In medical use, bilateral usually means both left and right sides; it does not mean simply serious or widespread.
Synonyms
two-sided (less technical and more general)
|
symmetric (suggests matching on both sides, not necessarily a medical problem)
Antonyms
unilateral (affecting only one side)
|
one-sided (less technical than unilateral)
Collocations
bilateral hearing loss
|bilateral knee replacement
|bilateral pneumonia
|bilateral pain
|bilateral swelling
|bilateral injury
|bilateral weakness
|bilateral surgery
|bilateral mastectomy
|bilateral cataracts
Themes
medicine
|health
|anatomy
Examples
- The patient reported bilateral pain in her knees.
- The scan showed bilateral inflammation in the lungs.
- He uses hearing aids for bilateral hearing loss.
Learner examples
- She has bilateral knee pain.
- Bilateral hearing loss means both ears are affected.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
having two corresponding sides
Bilateral can describe a shape or body with two matching sides.
Usage pattern:
bilateral [symmetry/structure/body plan]
Common mistake:
Bilateral symmetry is left-right symmetry; it is not the same as radial symmetry.
Synonyms
two-sided (more general and less scientific)
|
left-right (emphasizes the two opposite halves)
|
symmetric (emphasizes matching form on both sides)
Antonyms
radial (arranged around a central point rather than along left and right sides)
|
asymmetrical (lacking matching sides)
|
unilateral (relating to only one side)
Collocations
bilateral symmetry
|bilateral body plan
|bilateral organism
|bilateral structure
|bilateral arrangement
|bilateral design
Themes
biology
|science
|geometry
|design
Examples
- Butterflies show bilateral symmetry, with matching wings on each side.
- The fossil had a clearly bilateral body plan.
- The logo uses a bilateral design to create a sense of balance.
Learner examples
- A human body is roughly bilateral.
- The drawing has bilateral symmetry.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bilateral
IPA
GB/baɪlˈætɚəl/
US/baɪlˈætɚəl/
Syllables & stress
bi - lat - er - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: bilateral
Expressions
bilateral agreement
1/baɪlˈætɚəl əɡɹˈimənt/
fixed phrase
formal
agreement between two parties
A bilateral agreement is an agreement between two sides.
Examples
- The two countries signed a bilateral agreement on student exchanges.
- The airline reached a bilateral agreement with the airport authority.
- A new bilateral agreement will allow scientists to share climate data.
bilateral aid
1/baɪlˈætɚəl ˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
direct country-to-country aid
Bilateral aid is help that one country gives directly to another country.
Examples
- The program is funded mainly through bilateral aid from Canada.
- The government prefers bilateral aid because it can negotiate directly with the recipient country.
- Bilateral aid was redirected after the earthquake.
bilateral contract
1/baɪlˈætɚəl kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
legal
contract with mutual obligations
A bilateral contract is a contract where both sides make promises.
Examples
- A sales agreement is usually a bilateral contract because one party promises to deliver goods and the other promises to pay.
- The court found that the document created a bilateral contract, not a gift.
- The lawyer explained the difference between a unilateral offer and a bilateral contract.
bilateral hearing loss
1/baɪlˈætɚəl hˈɪɹɪŋ lˈɔs/
fixed phrase
technical
hearing loss in both ears
Bilateral hearing loss means a person has hearing loss in both ears.
Examples
- Prolonged noise exposure can cause bilateral hearing loss.
- The child was diagnosed with mild bilateral hearing loss.
- People with bilateral hearing loss may need hearing aids in both ears.
bilateral relations
1/baɪlˈætɚəl ɹilˈeɪʃənz/
fixed phrase
formal
relationship between two countries
Bilateral relations are the relationship between two countries.
Examples
- The visit was intended to strengthen bilateral relations.
- Bilateral relations between the two countries have improved over the past decade.
- Sanctions caused a sharp decline in bilateral relations.
bilateral symmetry
1/baɪlˈætɚəl sˈɪmətɹi/
fixed phrase
technical
left-right mirror symmetry
Bilateral symmetry means the left and right sides look nearly the same.
Examples
- Humans and insects both have bilateral symmetry.
- The fish's bilateral symmetry makes it easy to identify the left and right sides.
- The design uses bilateral symmetry to create a calm, balanced effect.
bilateral talks
1/baɪlˈætɚəl tˈɔks/
fixed phrase
formal
official two-side discussions
Bilateral talks are official talks between two sides.
Examples
- The presidents held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit.
- Bilateral talks are expected to focus on security and trade.
- The union requested bilateral talks with management.
bilateral trade
1/baɪlˈætɚəl tɹˈeɪd/
fixed phrase
business
trade between two countries
Bilateral trade is trade between two countries.
Examples
- New tariffs reduced bilateral trade between the neighbors.
- The report tracks bilateral trade in goods and services.
- Both governments want to increase bilateral trade over the next five years.