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Definition of "unilateral" []

  • Of, on, relating to, involving, or affecting only one side: "a unilateral advantage in defense” ( New Republic). (adjective)
  • Performed or undertaken by only one side: unilateral disarmament. (adjective)
  • Obligating only one of two or more parties, nations, or persons, as a contract or an agreement. (adjective)
  • Emphasizing or recognizing only one side of a subject. (adjective)
  • Having only one side. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "unilateral" in a sentence
  • "The institute also outlined in its report what it described as unilateral and uncoordinated government reforms: among them, national compensation rules that could cause "serious labor-market distortions," it said."
  • "PENHAUL: In what they described as a unilateral goodwill gesture, the FARC did free two hostages last week, including Betancourt's former vice presidential running mate, Clara Rojas."
  • "The group sought a stop to what it termed the unilateral imposition of a new pension fund in Johannesburg, an end to corruption and nepotism, and "effective cross-subsidisation from rich to poor and from business to domestic consumers"."