bilateral

[bahy-lat-er-uh l]

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.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for bilaterally

Historical Examples of bilaterally

It is bilaterally symmetrical and the reverse and obverse are alike.
The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley
Harlan Ingersoll Smith
The head and most of the figure are bilaterally symmetrical.
The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley
Harlan Ingersoll Smith
The Centroplana (or bilaterals) are divided into amphipleura (or bilaterally radial) and zygopleura (or bilaterally symmetrical).
Report on the Radiolaria Collected by H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873-1876, First Part: Porulosa (Spumellaria and Acantharia)
Ernst Haeckel
His face was described as bilaterally asymmetrical, and various other signs of degeneration were described.
Martin Eden
Jack London
At first they are bilaterally symmetrical, their radial symmetry being acquired later.
Elementary Zoology, Second Edition
Vernon L. Kellogg

British Dictionary definitions for bilaterally

bilateral

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 bilaterally

bilateral

adj.

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

bilaterally in Medicine

bilateral

[bī-lăt′ər-əl]

adj.

Having or formed of two sides; two-sided.
Having or marked by bilateral symmetry.