unilateral
Done or decided by only one side, without asking or agreeing with the other side or sides.
Decided or carried out by only one person, group, or country, without the agreement or participation of the others who are involved.
Happening on or in only one side of the body, or in only one of two body parts.
Affecting, occurring on, or involving only one side of the body or only one of a pair of body parts.
In legal English, used for a promise or contract where only one side has a duty to do something.
In law, describing an agreement, promise, or declaration that creates obligations for only one party, without requiring performance or acceptance by another party in the same way.
- Base: unilateral
unilateral action
1an action taken by one side only
An action taken by only one side, without agreement or cooperation from the others who are involved.
- 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
1contract 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.
- 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
1a 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.
- 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
1hearing 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.
- 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
1a one-sided strategic step
A single step or change made by one person, group, or country, without agreement from the other side or sides.
- 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.