Unilateral
adjective
Something done or decided by one person or organization without the agreement of others.
The government took the unilateral decision to close the facility.
Often appears as...
- unilateral decision
- unilateral action
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
adjective
Occurring on, performed on, or affecting one side of a body or structure.
Unilateral hearing loss can affect a person's ability to determine the direction of sound.
Often appears as...
- unilateral hearing loss
- unilateral mastectomy
Usage tips
Formal
Medical, Academic
adjective
Relating to, occurring on, or involving one side only.
A unilateral contract can be legally binding if one party fulfills their obligations.
Often appears as...
- unilateral contract
- unilateral agreement
Usage tips
Formal
Legal, Academic
adjective
Something done or decided by one person or organization without the agreement of others.
The government took the unilateral decision to close the facility.
Often appears as...
- unilateral decision
- unilateral action
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
adjective
Occurring on, performed on, or affecting one side of a body or structure.
Unilateral hearing loss can affect a person's ability to determine the direction of sound.
Often appears as...
- unilateral hearing loss
- unilateral mastectomy
Usage tips
Formal
Medical, Academic
adjective
Relating to, occurring on, or involving one side only.
A unilateral contract can be legally binding if one party fulfills their obligations.
Often appears as...
- unilateral contract
- unilateral agreement
Usage tips
Formal
Legal, Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Autonomy Implication
When 'unilateral' is used, it often implies that the person or entity acts independently, without seeking consent.
The CEO's unilateral approach frustrated the board.
Pro Tip 2/3Possible Disapproval
'Unilateral' can carry a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of cooperation or consideration.
The senator criticized the unilateral sanctions.
Pro Tip 3/3Often Political
'Unilateral' is frequently used in political or diplomatic contexts, where cooperation is expected.
The nation's unilateral withdrawal from the treaty surprised allies.
Pro Tip 1/3Autonomy Implication
When 'unilateral' is used, it often implies that the person or entity acts independently, without seeking consent.
The CEO's unilateral approach frustrated the board.
Pro Tip 2/3Possible Disapproval
'Unilateral' can carry a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of cooperation or consideration.
The senator criticized the unilateral sanctions.
Pro Tip 3/3Often Political
'Unilateral' is frequently used in political or diplomatic contexts, where cooperation is expected.
The nation's unilateral withdrawal from the treaty surprised allies.
Pro Tip 1/3Autonomy Implication
When 'unilateral' is used, it often implies that the person or entity acts independently, without seeking consent.
The CEO's unilateral approach frustrated the board.
Pro Tip 2/3Possible Disapproval
'Unilateral' can carry a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of cooperation or consideration.
The senator criticized the unilateral sanctions.
Pro Tip 3/3Often Political
'Unilateral' is frequently used in political or diplomatic contexts, where cooperation is expected.
The nation's unilateral withdrawal from the treaty surprised allies.
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Video examples
Are China and the US...
unilaterally seek to change the rules of the global order. So apart from all of that, it's just fine and dandy, the U.S.-China relationship. No real problems there. The challenge, though, is given those deep-rooted feelings,
Video examples
Trust, morality -- and...
cognition so oxytocin is the trust molecule but is it the moral molecule using that stoves inhaler we ran more studies we showed that oxytocin infusion increases generosity in unilateral
Video examples
Are China and the US...
unilaterally seek to change the rules of the global order. So apart from all of that, it's just fine and dandy, the U.S.-China relationship. No real problems there. The challenge, though, is given those deep-rooted feelings,
Video examples
Trust, morality -- and...
cognition so oxytocin is the trust molecule but is it the moral molecule using that stoves inhaler we ran more studies we showed that oxytocin infusion increases generosity in unilateral
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Karen DeCrow
American Activist
If a woman makes a unilateral decision to bring pregnancy to term, and the biological father does not, and cannot, share in this decision, he should not be liable for 21 years of support... autonomous women making independent decisions about their lives should not expect men to finance their choice.
Quote examples
Sergei Lavrov
Russian Diplomat
Attempts to settle crises by unilateral sanctions outside the framework of U.N. Security Council decisions threaten international peace and stability. Such attempts are counterproductive and contradict the norms and principles of international law.
Quote examples
Thomas Sowell
American Economist
Even the Soviet Union, with its huge nuclear arsenal, was a threat that could be deterred by the prospect of retaliation. But suicide bombers cannot be deterred. They can only be annihilated - preemptively and unilaterally, if necessary.
Quote examples
John Madden
American Entertainer
Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to the football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback's idea.
Quote examples
Oneohtrix Point Never
American Musician
All my collaborators unilaterally said that I need to just stay on one idea for longer. And of course I understand that. I like to switch gears a lot, and I like this kind of sloppy attitude.
Quote examples
Silvan Shalom
Israeli Politician
Most of the international community, most of the countries around the world, don't want any side, any party to take unilateral steps. They would like that all of us to stick to the road map.
Quote examples
Ben Domenech
American Writer
Unilateral sanctions on Cuba have been oppressive and largely ineffective, and that's why the public largely supports lifting them.
Quote examples
Nguyen Phu Trong
Vietnamese Politician
We must choose dialogue over confrontation, and peaceful settlement of disputes over unilateral acts of imposition.
Quote examples
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Leader
Peace is purchased from strength. It's not purchased from weakness or unilateral retreats.
Quote examples
Hassan Nasrallah
Lebanese Revolutionary
Peace cannot be unilateral.
Quote examples
Karen DeCrow
American Activist
If a woman makes a unilateral decision to bring pregnancy to term, and the biological father does not, and cannot, share in this decision, he should not be liable for 21 years of support... autonomous women making independent decisions about their lives should not expect men to finance their choice.
Quote examples
Sergei Lavrov
Russian Diplomat
Attempts to settle crises by unilateral sanctions outside the framework of U.N. Security Council decisions threaten international peace and stability. Such attempts are counterproductive and contradict the norms and principles of international law.
Quote examples
Thomas Sowell
American Economist
Even the Soviet Union, with its huge nuclear arsenal, was a threat that could be deterred by the prospect of retaliation. But suicide bombers cannot be deterred. They can only be annihilated - preemptively and unilaterally, if necessary.
Quote examples
John Madden
American Entertainer
Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to the football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback's idea.
Quote examples
Oneohtrix Point Never
American Musician
All my collaborators unilaterally said that I need to just stay on one idea for longer. And of course I understand that. I like to switch gears a lot, and I like this kind of sloppy attitude.
Quote examples
Silvan Shalom
Israeli Politician
Most of the international community, most of the countries around the world, don't want any side, any party to take unilateral steps. They would like that all of us to stick to the road map.
Quote examples
Ben Domenech
American Writer
Unilateral sanctions on Cuba have been oppressive and largely ineffective, and that's why the public largely supports lifting them.
Quote examples
Nguyen Phu Trong
Vietnamese Politician
We must choose dialogue over confrontation, and peaceful settlement of disputes over unilateral acts of imposition.
Quote examples
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Leader
Peace is purchased from strength. It's not purchased from weakness or unilateral retreats.
Quote examples
Hassan Nasrallah
Lebanese Revolutionary
Peace cannot be unilateral.
Example 1 of 10
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