Meaning & use
Bilateralism
Last updated
A political or diplomatic approach in which two nations or parties conduct negotiations, agreements, or trade directly with one another, rather than through multiple parties.
See it in a sentence
The two countries favored bilateralism over multilateral trade negotiations.
Critics argued that bilateralism can leave smaller nations at a disadvantage compared to broader coalitions.
A note on using this word
Bilateralism contrasts with multilateralism, which involves three or more parties, and is often chosen when nations want more direct control over the terms of an agreement.
Words with a similar meaning
bilateral diplomacy
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
multilateralism
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