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unilateral

/ˌjʉː.nɪˈlæt.ə.ɹɫ̩/ · u.ni.la.t·er·al
adjective
  1. Done by one side only. The company made a unilateral decision to change the product's design without consulting its customers.
  2. Affecting only one side of the body. The doctor diagnosed the patient with a unilateral injury to her knee.
  3. Binding or affecting one party only. The contract was a unilateral agreement, where one party had all the rights and the other party had none.
Did you know? The term 'unilateral' is often used in international relations to describe a situation where one country imposes its will on another without considering the other's interests or opinions.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 27, 2026