Meaning & use
lateral
Relating to, or situated at, the side of something rather than the front, back, or middle.
See it in a sentence
The coach called for a lateral pass to the player on the wing.
The dancer practiced smooth lateral movements across the entire stage floor.
A note on using this word
Lateral is common in anatomy, sports, and business, where a lateral move means a shift to an equivalent, not higher, position.
Words with a similar meaning
sidewaysside
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
centralfrontal
Another way to use it
2. noun
In American football, a backward or sideways pass thrown from one player to another.
The quarterback tossed a lateral just before he was tackled.
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