one-sided
Americanadjective
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considering but one side of a matter or question; partial or unfair.
a one-sided judgment.
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with one party, contestant, side, etc., vastly superior; unbalanced; unequal.
a one-sided fight.
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existing or occurring on one side only.
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having but one side, or but one developed or finished side.
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having one side larger or more developed than the other.
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Law. involving the action of one person only.
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having the parts all on one side, as an inflorescence.
adjective
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considering or favouring only one side of a matter, problem, etc
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having all the advantage on one side
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larger or more developed on one side
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having, existing on, or occurring on one side only
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another term for unilateral
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denoting a surface on which any two points can be joined without crossing an edge See Möbius strip
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s not to say the benefits of such deals are one sided.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
Russia's envoy Guzal Khusanova called the findings "one sided and unbalanced".
From Reuters • Oct. 4, 2022
There has been plenty of entertainment even if the final results have been one sided in recent years.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 29, 2022
"Generally allergies have more itchy symptoms — they are on bilateral or on both sides rather than one sided and there is a seasonal component," Parikh said in an email.
From Salon • Sep. 16, 2021
As I did so, I noticed it seemed one sided, and looking at the wheels, I found one was somewhat larger than the other, but said nothing.
From Adventures and Reminiscences of a Volunteer A Drummer Boy from Maine by Ulmer, George T.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
