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Unilateral: meaning, definitions and examples

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unilateral

 

[ ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

political decision

Unilateral refers to a decision or action taken by one party or country without the agreement or participation of others. In a political context, this often implies that a state acts independently, which can affect international relations. For instance, a unilateral decision may undermine alliances or treaties if other parties are not involved in the decision-making process.

Synonyms

independent, one-sided, solitary

Examples of usage

  • The government took unilateral action to impose tariffs.
  • They made a unilateral decision to withdraw from the agreement.
  • Unilateral military interventions can escalate conflicts.
Context #2 | Adjective

medical context

In a medical context, unilateral refers to something that affects only one side of the body. This can relate to a range of symptoms or conditions, such as unilateral hearing loss or unilateral pain. It is important in diagnosis and treatment, as it can help narrow down potential causes and contribute to effective medical intervention.

Synonyms

lateral, one-sided, single-sided

Examples of usage

  • The patient presented with unilateral hearing loss.
  • She reported unilateral headache symptoms.
  • Unilateral swelling may indicate a localized infection.

Translations

Translations of the word "unilateral" in other languages:

🇵🇹 unilateral

🇮🇳 एकतरफा

🇩🇪 einseitig

🇮🇩 satu sisi

🇺🇦 односторонній

🇵🇱 jednostronny

🇯🇵 一方的な

🇫🇷 unilatéral

🇪🇸 unilateral

🇹🇷 tek taraflı

🇰🇷 일방적인

🇸🇦 أحادي الجانب

🇨🇿 jednostranný

🇸🇰 jednostranný

🇨🇳 单方面的

🇸🇮 enostranski

🇮🇸 einnhliða

🇰🇿 біржақты

🇬🇪 ერთმხრივი

🇦🇿 tək tərəfli

🇲🇽 unilateral

Word origin

The term 'unilateral' originates from the late 19th century, derived from the French word 'unilatéral', which is composed of the prefix 'uni-' meaning 'one' and 'lateral' from the Latin 'lateralis', meaning 'related to the side'. The concept was initially used in contexts of political and military actions, denoting decisions made by one party alone. Over time, the usage expanded to various fields, including medicine and law, maintaining the core idea of singularity or one-sidedness. In international relations, unilateral actions can have significant implications, and the term has thus become increasingly noteworthy in discussions surrounding geopolitical strategies and diplomacy.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,960 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.