unilateralism

[ yoo-nuh-lat-er-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun
  1. the advocacy or pursuit of a unilateral policy, especially in disarmament.

Origin of unilateralism

1
First recorded in 1925–30; unilateral + -ism

Other words from unilateralism

  • u·ni·lat·er·al·ist, noun, adjective

Words Nearby unilateralism

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

How to use unilateralism in a sentence

Cultural definitions for unilateralism

unilateralism

[ (yooh-nuh-lat-uhr-uh-liz-uhm) ]


Action initiated or taken by a single nation rather than by two nations (see bilateralism) (see also bilateralism) or several (see multilateralism). For example, a nation might choose to disarm unilaterally in the hope that others will follow. (See recognition.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.