Bilateral
/ˌbaɪˈlætərəl/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Bilateral describes something that has two sides or involves two parties. It is often used to talk about agreements, relationships, or body parts that come in pairs, like two hands or two countries working together.
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See It in Action
Involving two sides or parties, especially countries or organizations
- •The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.
- •Bilateral talks helped solve the conflict peacefully.
- •They have a bilateral relationship based on trust and cooperation.
Relating to two sides of the body or objects
- •The patient had bilateral knee pain, meaning pain in both knees.
- •Bilateral symmetry means both sides of an animal's body are similar.
- •The injury affected bilateral muscles on both arms.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'bilateral' like 'two sides,' but in a formal or special way, often about agreements or body parts
- ✓Picture a handshake between two people—each side belongs to one person, and together they connect
- ✓It's the feeling when two friends agree on something and both share responsibility
- ✓Sounds like 'bye-LAT-er-al' → imagine two people saying 'bye' to each other from two different sides, meeting in the middle
- ✓Think of famous bilateral talks between countries where both sides discuss important issues
- ✓NOT like 'unilateral' (one side only)—bilateral always involves two sides working together
- ✓NOT like 'multilateral' (many sides)—bilateral means exactly two sides, no more, no less
Try Other Words
- •Two-sided: having two sides (Use when talking about objects or simple situations)
- •Mutual: shared by two parties (Use when focusing on shared feelings or agreements)
- •Reciprocal: involving give and take between two sides (Use when emphasizing balance or exchange)
- •Joint: done together by two parties (Use when highlighting cooperation or combined action)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "bi-" means two
- •Root "later" comes from Latin "latus," meaning side
- •Suffix "-al" turns the word into an adjective meaning "related to"
- •Origin: From Latin "bilateralis," meaning "having two sides"
- •First used in English in the 1600s to describe things involving two sides
- •Modern use: Common in politics, biology, and agreements to describe two-sided relationships or body parts
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of bilateral agreements help countries solve problems peacefully?
•Can you think of examples in your own life where bilateral cooperation is important?
Fill in the blanks
1.The two neighbors signed a bilateral agreement to share the ___ fence and garden.
2.Bilateral talks between countries usually require ___ from both sides to succeed.
3.When a doctor says a patient has bilateral pain, it means the pain is on ___ sides of the body.
4.Unlike unilateral decisions made by one person, bilateral decisions involve ___ parties working together.
5.The bilateral symmetry of the butterfly means its left and right wings are ___.
6.In business, a bilateral contract means both sides have ___ and responsibilities.
7.Bilateral discussions often focus on ___ issues that affect both countries equally.