bilateral

[ bahy-lat-er-uhl ]
See synonyms for bilateral on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. pertaining to, involving, or affecting two or both sides, factions, parties, or the like: a bilateral agreement; bilateral sponsorship.

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

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

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

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

noun
  1. Informal. a bilateral agreement, especially regarding international trade.

Origin of bilateral

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

Other words from bilateral

  • bi·lat·er·al·ism, bi·lat·er·al·ness, noun
  • bi·lat·er·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bilateral in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bilateral

bilateral

/ (baɪˈlætərəl) /


adjective
  1. having or involving two sides

  2. affecting or undertaken by two parties; mutual: a bilateral treaty

  1. denoting or relating to bilateral symmetry

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

  3. sociol relating to descent through both maternal and paternal lineage: Compare unilateral (def. 5)

  4. British relating to an education that combines academic and technical courses

  5. a bilateral meeting

Derived forms of bilateral

  • bilaterally, 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