Definition and Usage of Unilaterally | Generated by AI
Question: What does “unilaterally” mean?
Answer:
Unilaterally is an adverb that means:
- Done or undertaken by one person, party, or side alone, without the agreement, involvement, or consent of others involved.
- Affecting or involving only one side.
Common Contexts and Examples:
- In politics/diplomacy: A country might “unilaterally declare independence” or “unilaterally impose sanctions,” meaning it acts without international agreement.
- In decisions: A person or organization can “unilaterally terminate a contract,” meaning they end it without the other party’s approval.
- In anatomy/medicine: It can describe something affecting only one side of the body (e.g., “unilateral paralysis”).
The word comes from “unilateral,” which combines “uni-“ (one) + “lateral” (side).
Opposite terms include bilaterally (involving two sides) or multilaterally (involving multiple sides).