Meaning & use
bilateral
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Involving two parties, especially countries or organizations, in an agreement or discussion.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a bilateral agreement, bilateral talks.
Patterns
- bilateral agreement
- bilateral relations
- bilateral talks
The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.
Bilateral talks between the leaders ended without a deal.
The company has bilateral contracts with several suppliers.
adjectivebefore a nountechnicalmedical
Affecting or relating to both sides of something, especially both sides of the body.
Grammar: Technical use, often in medical contexts: bilateral hearing loss.
Patterns
- bilateral hearing loss
- bilateral symmetry
The patient has bilateral hearing loss in both ears.
Bilateral symmetry is common in animals such as humans and insects.
Common combinations
- bilateral agreement
- They reached a bilateral agreement on fishing rights.
- bilateral relations
- Bilateral relations between the two nations have improved.
- bilateral trade
- Bilateral trade increased by 10 percent last year.
- bilateral talks
- The foreign ministers held bilateral talks in Geneva.
Synonyms and how they differ
- two-sided
- More general and less formal; it can describe objects as well as agreements.
- mutual
- Focuses on feelings or actions shared by two people, not on formal agreements between parties.
Opposites
Word family
- bilaterally adverb
- In a way that involves two sides or parties.
- bilateralism noun
- The practice of conducting negotiations between two parties.
Commonly confused: bilateral or unilateral? bilateral or multilateral?
bilateral vs unilateral
Unilateral means done by one side only; bilateral involves two sides.
bilateral vs multilateral
Multilateral involves three or more parties; bilateral involves exactly two.
Practice
The two governments signed a ______ agreement to reduce tariffs.
Choose one answer.
Bilateral fits because the agreement is between two governments. Unilateral would mean one side acting alone, and multilateral would involve three or more parties.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bilateral”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.