adjective

unilateral

yoo-nih-LAT-er-ul/ˌjuːnɪˈlætrəl/

Involving only one side.

One partner makes a unilateral decision to move their shared model.

At a shared desk one partner alone moves a shared model or object while the other reaches out in surprise, a clearly one-sided decision without mutual agreement.

Etymology

uniLatinone

+laterLatinside, flank

+alLatinpertaining to

The pieces describe something pertaining to one side only. In legal and other dealings, that side can be a party acting alone rather than together with another party.

In context

Harvard Online0:05

unilateral mistake, a mistake that is only one sided. One party is under an important mistaken impression and the other is not.

Unilateral and mutual mistakes

More examples

The country announces a unilateral ceasefire.
The landlord makes a unilateral change to the rental agreement.
Unilateral hearing loss affects only one ear.

Forms

unilateral

unilaterally adverb — With only one side involved or affected.

Similar words

one-sided: Can also suggest unfairness or imbalance between opposing sides.