unilaterally

American  

[yoo-nuh-lat-er-uh-lee] / ˌju nəˈlæt ər ə li /

adverb

1. involving, done by, or decided by only one person, side, party, or faction.

   Instead of bargaining with teachers and public service workers, the governor and the legislature have unilaterally reduced pension and health benefits.

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Etymology

Origin of unilaterally

unilateral ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Doing something unilaterally means it's done without the agreement or participation of other people it might affect. A dad might decide unilaterally to take his family to Indiana for summer vacation, without asking them where they'd like to go. You're most likely to come across the word unilaterally in a news report, since it's often used to describe actions taken by governments. If one country unilaterally launches an attack on another, it means the country's government does not consult groups like the United Nations or other affected countries before making the decision to attack. The Latin root, unilateralis, combines the prefix uni, or "one," with latus, "side," to make a word that means "one-sided."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

unilaterally

Once in place, the levies can remain indefinitely and be unilaterally altered by the president.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

The union said that despite repeated demands to improve workplace conditions -- including mounting protest phrases on trucks -- the company had "ultimately ignored partners' demands, instead unilaterally introducing even more burdensome promotional events".

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

Second, as a manufacturer cannot change EPA-approved labeling unilaterally, complying with both state and federal law would be impossible, preempting state suits.

From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026

On 21 May Iran announced that it had unilaterally established a Persian Gulf Strait Authority to regulate shipping through the waterway.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

Those who do step out of line often face little unexplained punishments, such as having their schedules or their work assignments unilaterally changed.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich