unilateral
gb/jˌunəlˈætɚəl/ us/jˌunəlˈætɚəl/
C1
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
decided or done by one side only
Done or decided by only one side, without asking or agreeing with the other side or sides.
Usage pattern:
[unilateral] [decision/action/move] by [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "unilateral" with "universal" or "united". "Unilateral" does not mean that everyone is together or that something affects everyone; it means that only one side acts or decides. Another mistake is using it where simple "single" or "alone" is meant, even when there is no idea of other sides being ignored.
Synonyms
one-sided (More general and less formal; used in both everyday and formal contexts.)
|
solo (Informal and emphasizes acting alone, not the lack of consultation or agreement.)
|
autocratic (Adds a strong negative tone of power being used without concern for others.)
Antonyms
bilateral (Stresses that two sides are involved and have agreed.)
|
multilateral (Stresses that several sides or countries are involved and have agreed.)
|
joint (Emphasizes that a decision or action is shared and agreed by more than one party.)
Collocations
unilateral decision
|unilateral action
|unilateral move
|unilateral withdrawal
|unilateral change
|unilateral sanctions
Themes
politics
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The president announced a unilateral decision to impose new tariffs.
- Critics argue that a unilateral withdrawal from the treaty would damage international trust.
- Management took unilateral action to cut staff benefits without consulting employees.
- The company’s unilateral move surprised its business partners.
- They warned that any unilateral change to the contract would be invalid.
Learner examples
- The government made a unilateral decision to close the border.
- Her boss took unilateral action and changed her schedule without asking her.
- A unilateral move by one country can start a conflict.
- The union is angry about the company’s unilateral changes.
- He said his team would not accept any unilateral plan from the other side.
adjective
technical
C1
property
2
affecting only one side of the body
Happening on or in only one side of the body, or in only one of two body parts.
Usage pattern:
[unilateral] [pain/swelling/hearing loss/paralysis]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "unilateral" always has a political meaning and may not recognize it in medical contexts. In health texts, it simply describes which side of the body is affected, not anything about agreement or disagreement.
Synonyms
one-sided (General term; less precise and less commonly used in clinical descriptions.)
|
lateralized (More technical; often used in neurology to describe functions or symptoms limited to one side.)
Antonyms
bilateral (Describes something affecting both sides of the body or both paired organs.)
|
symmetrical (Emphasizes that both sides are affected in the same way.)
Collocations
unilateral hearing loss
|unilateral paralysis
|unilateral pain
|unilateral weakness
|unilateral swelling
|unilateral headache
Themes
medicine
|health
|science
|body
Examples
- The patient presented with unilateral hearing loss in the left ear.
- She reported unilateral pain in her right knee after the accident.
- Unilateral weakness of the face can be a sign of a stroke.
- The scan showed unilateral swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.
- Unilateral paralysis of the arm developed suddenly during the night.
Learner examples
- The doctor said I have unilateral hearing loss in my right ear.
- He feels unilateral pain on the left side of his head.
- The stroke caused unilateral weakness in her left leg.
- Unilateral swelling of his foot worried the nurse.
- The dentist found unilateral problems only on one side of my mouth.
adjective
technical
C2
property
3
binding only one party in law
In legal English, used for a promise or contract where only one side has a duty to do something.
Usage pattern:
[unilateral] [contract/promise/declaration/undertaking]
Common mistake:
Learners may assume that "unilateral contract" means an unfair or illegal contract. In legal use, it is a neutral technical term describing the structure of the obligations, not a judgment about fairness.
Synonyms
one-sided (Less precise and less technical; may sound informal or vague in legal writing.)
Antonyms
bilateral (In law, refers to a contract where both parties have obligations.)
|
reciprocal (Emphasizes that obligations or rights go both ways.)
Collocations
unilateral contract
|unilateral declaration
|unilateral promise
|unilateral undertaking
|unilateral waiver
|unilateral termination clause
Themes
law
|business
Examples
- A reward offer is a classic example of a unilateral contract.
- The court recognized the unilateral declaration as legally binding.
- They entered into a unilateral undertaking to clean up the polluted site.
- The clause allows the bank unilateral termination of the agreement under certain conditions.
- International law sometimes treats a clear unilateral promise by a state as binding.
Learner examples
- In a unilateral contract, only one side makes a binding promise.
- The company signed a unilateral undertaking to pay for the damage.
- A clear unilateral declaration by a government can have legal effects.
- This is not a bilateral deal; it is a unilateral promise.
- The lawyer explained that a unilateral offer becomes binding when someone performs the act.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unilateral
IPA
GB/jˌunəlˈætɚəl/
US/jˌunəlˈætɚəl/
Syllables & stress
uni - lat - er - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (er)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unilateral
Word family
Core family
unilaterally
adverb
Related words
lateral
adjective B2
laterally
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
unilateralism
noun C2
unilateralist
noun
Expressions
unilateral action
1/jˌunəlˈætɚəl ˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
an action taken by one side only
An action taken by only one side, without agreement or cooperation from the others who are involved.
Examples
- The committee warned against any unilateral action that might damage the peace talks.
- Unilateral action by the company could lead to legal challenges.
unilateral contract
1/jˌunəlˈætɚəl kˈɑntɹˌækt/
fixed phrase
technical
contract binding only one party
A legal agreement where only one side makes a binding promise, usually becoming fully binding when the other side performs a certain action.
Examples
- A promise to pay a reward to anyone who finds a lost dog is a unilateral contract.
- Law students often study unilateral contract cases in their first year.
unilateral decision
1/jˌunəlˈætɚəl dɪsˈɪʒən/
fixed phrase
formal
a decision made by one side only
A decision made by only one person, group, or country, without asking or agreeing with the other side or sides.
Examples
- Many employees were upset about the management’s unilateral decision to reduce salaries.
- The minister defended the unilateral decision as necessary for national security.
unilateral hearing loss
1/jˌunəlˈætɚəl hˈɪɹɪŋ lˈɔs/
fixed phrase
technical
hearing loss in one ear only
A medical condition where a person cannot hear well in one ear, but the other ear is normal or much better.
Examples
- The child was diagnosed with unilateral hearing loss in his left ear.
- Unilateral hearing loss can make it hard to tell where sounds come from.
unilateral move
1/jˌunəlˈætɚəl mˈuv/
fixed phrase
formal
a one-sided strategic step
A single step or change made by one person, group, or country, without agreement from the other side or sides.
Examples
- Analysts saw the tariff increase as a unilateral move that could start a trade war.
- Such a unilateral move might weaken the country’s alliances.