bilateral

[ bahy-lat-er-uh l ]

/ baɪˈlæt ər əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bilateral ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to, involving, or affecting two or both sides, factions, parties, or the like: a bilateral agreement; bilateral sponsorship.

located on opposite sides of an axis; two-sided, especially when of equal size, value, etc.

Biology. pertaining to the right and left sides of a structure, plane, etc.

Chiefly Law. (of a contract) binding the parties to reciprocal obligations.

through both parents equally: bilateral affiliation.Compare unilateral(def 7).

noun

Informal. a bilateral agreement, especially regarding international trade.

Nearby words

Origin of bilateral

First recorded in 1765–75; bi-¹ + lateral

Related formsbi·lat·er·al·ism, bi·lat·er·al·ness, nounbi·lat·er·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bilateral

Now the question in Colombia, is, will a bilateral ceasefire be announced in coming days?
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?|Richard McColl|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the past, Santos has been stubbornly opposed to a bilateral ceasefire, but his position on the issue may be shifting.
Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?|Richard McColl|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Al-Huthaili is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and the two countries are not bound by a bilateral extradition treaty.
Saudi Beauty Says She Robbed Banks for Her Mafia Lover|Caitlin Dickson|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kirby said this would include "exercises, bilateral meetings, port visits and planning conferences."
Pentagon Freezing Its Relationship With Russian Military|Eli Lake|March 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“This is a bilateral issue,” he said Wednesday through his spokesman, Martin Nesirsky.
Italian Pirate-Fighting Marines On Trial|Barbie Latza Nadeau|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When both sides are alike, the unit so formed is called a bilateral unit.
Industrial Arts Design|William H. Varnum
Bilateral clearing units arise from bilateral trade and payments agreements with about thirty noncommunist trading partners.
Area Handbook for Bulgaria|Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole
Ordinarily inflammation of the tubes happens to be bilateral.
The Ethics of Medical Homicide and Mutilation|Austin O'Malley
The risk of intestinal obstruction after bilateral ovariotomy is greater than after hysterectomy.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various
In only a few genera this bilateral symmetry is not expressed, and a simpler, more regular fundamental form appears.
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, Second Part: Subclass Osculosa; Index|Ernst Haeckel

British Dictionary definitions for bilateral

bilateral

/ (baɪˈlætərəl) /

adjective

having or involving two sides

affecting or undertaken by two parties; mutuala bilateral treaty

denoting or relating to bilateral symmetry

having identical sides or parts on each side of an axis; symmetrical

sociol relating to descent through both maternal and paternal lineageCompare unilateral (def. 5)

British relating to an education that combines academic and technical courses

a bilateral meeting

Derived Formsbilaterally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for bilateral

bilateral

adj.

"having two sides," 1775, from bi- + lateral. Related: Bilaterally.

Medicine definitions for bilateral

bilateral

[ bī-lăt′ər-əl ]

adj.

Having or formed of two sides; two-sided.

Having or marked by bilateral symmetry.

bilateral

adjective

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of bilateral

Examples from the Web for bilateral

bilateral

adjective

bilateral

bilateral

adj.