Meaning & use
unidirectional
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparabletechnical
Moving, working or pointing in only one direction.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a unidirectional flow, a unidirectional valve.
Patterns
- unidirectional flow
The valve allows only unidirectional flow of water.
The street has unidirectional traffic during rush hour.
A unidirectional microphone picks up sound from the front.
adjectivecomparablefigurative
Running in one way only, with no exchange or feedback from the other side.
Grammar: Used figuratively for relationships or communication.
Patterns
- a unidirectional relationship
The influence between the two cultures was not unidirectional.
Their communication was unidirectional: she spoke and he never replied.
A unidirectional flow of information makes teamwork difficult.
Common combinations
- unidirectional flow
- The pipe allows unidirectional flow only.
- unidirectional microphone
- A unidirectional microphone reduces background noise.
- unidirectional traffic
- The tunnel has unidirectional traffic.
- unidirectional relationship
- Their friendship felt unidirectional.
- unidirectional movement
- The cells show unidirectional movement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- one-way
- One-way is the ordinary everyday word, especially for streets and tickets.
- directional
- Directional only means having a direction, not that it has just one.
- linear
- Linear describes a straight line or a step-by-step sequence, not necessarily a single direction.
- one-sided
- One-sided suggests unfair or lacking balance, especially in an argument.
Opposites
Word family
- direction noun
- the way something moves or points
- directional adjective
- relating to direction
- bidirectional adjective
- working or moving in two directions
- omnidirectional adjective
- working in all directions
- unidirectionally adverb
- in one direction only
Commonly confused: unidirectional or unilateral?
unidirectional vs unilateral
Unilateral means done by one side only, such as a decision; unidirectional is about direction of movement or flow.
Practice
A valve that lets liquid pass in one direction only is described as ___.
Choose one answer.
Unidirectional means one direction. The other options all describe movement in more than one direction.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unidirectional”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.