Words / C1

yoon-i-LATR-uh-l/ˌjuːnɪˈlætrəl/

Unilateral means done by one person or group without the agreement of others: a unilateral decision, unilateral action. Bilateral is two-sided; multilateral is many. A cut bus is logistics, however solo the email.

Meaning

Done by one person or group without the agreement of others.

Examples

• “A unilateral cut to the night bus still needs the exclusion named in the n.”
• “One-sided is everyday. Bilateral is the two-party twin. An email is a channel. A route is a timetable. Name the exclusion, or reinstate the bus.”

Good to know

One-sided; without agreement. Contrast: bilateral. A solo email ≠ a silent cut.

Near in meaning

one-sided

New