unilateralism
gb/jˌunɪlˈætɚəlˌɪzəm/ us/jˌunɪlˈætɚəlˌɪzəm/
C2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C2
abstract
1
policy of acting alone
acting or making decisions alone, especially by a government, without getting agreement from other countries or groups
Usage pattern:
[country's/organization's] unilateralism; unilateralism on [issue]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse unilateralism with neutrality. Unilateralism means acting alone or one-sidedly, not refusing to take sides.
Synonyms
one-sided action (clearer and less formal; describes the behavior rather than the political principle)
|
go-it-alone policy (informal; emphasizes acting without partners)
|
independent action (more neutral and broader; lacks the political criticism often implied by unilateralism)
Antonyms
multilateralism (acting through cooperation among several countries or groups)
|
cooperation (working with others rather than acting alone)
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collective action (action taken jointly by a group rather than by one side)
Collocations
American unilateralism
|U.S. unilateralism
|foreign-policy unilateralism
|military unilateralism
|economic unilateralism
|a policy of unilateralism
|accuse someone of unilateralism
|criticize unilateralism
|oppose unilateralism
|unilateralism and multilateralism
Themes
politics
|international_relations
|government
|diplomacy
Examples
- Critics accused the government of unilateralism after it withdrew from the international agreement without consulting its allies.
- The speech marked a shift away from unilateralism and toward closer cooperation with regional partners.
- In foreign policy debates, unilateralism is often contrasted with multilateralism.
Learner examples
- Many countries criticized the president's unilateralism.
- Unilateralism means making decisions alone.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unilateralism
IPA
GB/jˌunɪlˈætɚəlˌɪzəm/
US/jˌunɪlˈætɚəlˌɪzəm/
Syllables & stress
uni - lat - er - al - ism (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (er)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: unilateralism
- Plural: unilateralisms
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.