unilateral
yoo-nih-LAT-er-uhl
/ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/
An action or decision performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of another or others.
Often carries a slightly negative or aggressive tone in business and politics, implying that one party acted selfishly without consulting others.
The story behind the word. Coined in the early 19th century by combining the Latin unus (one) and latus (side). It was originally used in legal contexts to describe contracts where only one party made a binding promise (a unilateral contract), before spreading to international diplomacy and general business.
Word relationships
- independent: 'Independent' is neutral and positive, suggesting self-reliance, while 'unilateral' often implies a disregard for cooperative agreements.
- one-sided: 'One-sided' is a simpler term that can describe physical objects or unfair contests, whereas 'unilateral' is formal and refers to actions or decisions.
- bilateral: 'Bilateral' refers to an action or agreement involving two parties.
- multilateral: 'Multilateral' refers to an action or agreement involving three or more parties.
Commonly confused with
- consensus: 'Unilateral' is a decision made by one party alone, whereas 'consensus' is an agreement reached by all parties involved.
Word family
- unilaterally (adverb): Used to indicate that something is done by only one person or group.
Collocations
- unilateral decision
- unilateral action
- unilateral declaration
Idioms & expressions
- going rogue
- lone wolf
Example sentences
- "The president's unilateral decision to withdraw from the treaty angered many of the nation's closest allies." A country taking military action without allies.
- "The manager made a unilateral decision to change the shift schedules without consulting the team leads." A business executive acting alone.
Memory hook
Think of a 'unicycle'—it only has one wheel. A 'unilateral' decision is made by only 'one side' of the team. Unilateral is one-sided.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a personal choice that doesn't affect anyone else (e.g., 'I made a unilateral decision to wear blue socks').
Fun facts
- In medicine, a 'unilateral' symptom is one that occurs on only one side of the body, such as a unilateral headache (migraine).
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