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bidirectional

American

[bahy-di-rek-shuh-nl, -dahy-] / ˌbaɪ dɪˈrɛk ʃə nl, -daɪ- /

adjective

capable of reacting or functioning in two, usually opposite, directions.

bidirectional British

/ ˌbaɪdɪˈrɛkʃənəl /

adjective

computing (of a printhead) capable of printing from left to right and from right to left

"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

Other Word Forms

bidirectionality noun
bidirectionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of bidirectional

First recorded in 1940–45; bi- ¹ + directional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With some added bits the unit is capable of bidirectional charging, allowing your car to act as a home backup battery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

Zoox is aiming to launch a commercial ride-hailing service similar to Uber and Lyft that relies on its purpose-built bidirectional vehicles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2025

There’s a bidirectional relationship underway here; the growth of online goods and services is both the symptom and cause of a disappointing physical world.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2024

“We have a bidirectional relationship between financial stress and mental health,” Abramson said.

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2024

The results reveal a bidirectional association between perinatal depression and autoimmune thyroiditis, psoriasis, MS, ulcerative colitis, and coeliac disease.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023