one-sided

American  

[wuhn-sahy-did] / ˈwʌnˈsaɪ dɪd /

adjective

1. considering but one side of a matter or question; partial or unfair.

   a one-sided judgment.

2. with one party, contestant, side, etc., vastly superior; unbalanced; unequal.

   a one-sided fight.

3. existing or occurring on one side only.

4. having but one side, or but one developed or finished side.

5. having one side larger or more developed than the other.

6. Law. involving the action of one person only.

7. having the parts all on one side, as an inflorescence.

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one-sided British  

adjective

1. considering or favouring only one side of a matter, problem, etc

2. having all the advantage on one side

3. larger or more developed on one side

4. having, existing on, or occurring on one side only

5. another term for unilateral

6. denoting a surface on which any two points can be joined without crossing an edge See Möbius strip

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Other Word Forms

• one-sidedly adverb
• one-sidedness noun

Etymology

Origin of one-sided

First recorded in 1805–15

Explanation

One-sided means only showing a single side of a complicated issue, or being biased. A newspaper article is one-sided if it presents just one opinion about a controversial topic. When television news gives a one-sided version of the facts, it's impossible for a viewer to get a clear picture of what's going on, especially when most political subjects have so many differing opinions. Another, much less controversial meaning of the adjective one-sided is simply "having only one side." You might be pleased to realize that your math test paper is one-sided, with questions only on the front.

Example Sentences

This one-sided empathy is not a spontaneous response to compelling facts, however.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

This is one of the rare times when one-sided phone calls aren’t a bad thing, says Nedra Glover Tawwab, a therapist and author of “Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

Iran, which is an IMO member but does not sit on its council, hit out at the declaration, branding it "one-sided, unfair, inaccurate and legally deficient".

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Ronald Lamola added that the relationship between South Africa and the US was not one-sided.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

Leah’s book, The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism, is thorough, yet often unreliable, and obviously one-sided in support of the spirits.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• discriminatory
• partisan
• unequal
• unfair
• unjust