unilateralu‧ni‧lat‧e‧ral /ˌjuːnəˈlætərəl◂/ ●○○ adjective formal 
Examples
a unilateral declaration of independenceunilateral disarmament (=when one country gets rid of its own nuclear weapons without waiting for other countries to do the same)—unilateralism noun [uncountable]—unilaterally adverb
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
word sets- a unilateral ban on landmines
- Brain tumors or large arteriovenous malformations can occasionally cause unilateral head or facial pain.
- Nobody really expected that the announcement of a unilateral cease-fire would bring an immediate end to the fighting.
- The child increasingly is capable of evaluating arguments rather than simply accepting preformed unilateral ideas.
- The United States should also take unilateral steps to show Mr Fujimori his conduct has a price.
- There is little cooperation in the social sense-there is only obedience, or unilateral respect.
- They are a unilateral declaration by the man that he need not trouble about the formalities expected between non-intimates.
- We felt that there can be no question of fairness when the law effectively endorses unilateral decision.
WORD SETS► Government
Collocationsabsolutism, nounadministration, nounagency, nounagent, nounagent provocateur, nounalderman, nounally, nounassembly, nounautarchy, nounautocracy, nounautocrat, nounautonomous, adjectiveautonomy, nounban, nounbaron, nounbig government, nounbilateral, adjectivebody politic, nounbudget, nounbureau, nounbureaucracy, nouncabinet, nouncaliphate, nouncanton, nouncanvass, verbcapital, nouncapitalist, nounCapitol Hill, nounCBE, nouncede, verbcentral, adjectivecentral government, nouncentralism, nouncentralize, verbchancellery, nounchancery, nouncharter, nouncharter, verbchief, nounCIA, the, city hall, nouncity-state, nounclient state, nounCo., coalition, nouncold war, nouncolonial, adjectivecolonial, nouncolonialism, nouncolonize, verbcolony, nouncommissioner, nouncommune, nounconsort, nounconstitution, nounconstitutional, adjectiveconstitutionality, nounconvention, nouncoronation, nouncount, nouncounterintelligence, nouncountess, nouncounty, nouncounty council, noundecolonize, verbdemocracy, noundemocratic, adjectivedependency, noundespotism, noundétente, noundethrone, verbdevolution, noundictatorial, adjectivedictatorship, noundiplomacy, noundiplomatic immunity, noundirective, noundisinformation, noundispatch, noundispensation, noundissent, verbdistrict council, noundocumentation, nounDOD, dominion, nounDowning Street, noundynasty, nounearl, nounearldom, nounempire, nounEuro, adjectiveEurope, nounexecutive, nounexecutive privilege, nounfall, verbfall, nounfederalism, nounfeudal, adjectivefeudalism, nounfeudalistic, adjectivegazette, nounhead of state, nounhigh commission, nounimperial, adjectiveindependence, nounindependent, adjectiveinfrastructure, nouninstigate, verbinsurgent, nouninsurrection, nounintelligence, nouninternal, adjectivejunket, nounjunta, nounkingdom, nounkingship, nounkitchen cabinet, nounland office, nounland registry, nounlegation, nounlegislature, nounlicensed, adjectivelocal authority, nounlocal government, nounmaharajah, nounmaharani, nounmandate, nounmandated, adjectivemartial law, nounMBE, nounmeasure, nounmidterm, nounministry, nounminority government, nounmisrule, nounmonarchy, nounmonolith, nounmonolithic, adjectivemoratorium, nounmouthpiece, nounmove, verbmover, nounmunicipal, adjectivemunicipality, nounNASA, nounnational, adjectivenational debt, nounNational Health Service, the, nationalize, verbnational monument, nounnation state, nounNATO, nounneocolonialism, nounneutral, adjectiveneutral, nounneutralize, verbnon-aligned, adjectivenon-intervention, nounnon-proliferation, noun-ocracy, suffix-ocrat, suffixofficiate, verboligarchy, nounoperational, adjectiveoperative, nounoverthrow, verboverthrow, nounoverturn, verbpacify, verbpact, nounpalatinate, nounpardon, nounparish, nounpartition, nounpass, verbpeer, nounpeer, verbpeerage, nounpeeress, nounpermit, nounplenary, adjectiveplutocracy, nounpolice state, nounpolitburo, nounpolitical science, nounpolity, nounpork, nounpork barrel, nounportfolio, nounpossession, nounprecinct, nounprefecture, nounpremiership, nounpresidium, nounprotectorate, nounpublic, adjectivepublic service, nounquota, nounR, ratify, verbrealm, nounrecall, nounrecognition, nounrecognize, verbregency, nounregent, nounregime, nounregister, nounregulation, nounrelease, nounrepeal, verbrepresentative, nounrepressive, adjectiverepublic, nounrepublican, adjectiverescind, verbreunify, verbrevoke, verbrising, nounroyalist, nounruling, adjectivesanction, nounseat, nounsecret agent, nounsecurity service, nounself-governing, adjectiveself-rule, nounsheikh, nounshire, nounsocial democracy, nounsocialist, adjectivesocial service, nounsovereign, adjectivesovereignty, nounspin doctor, nounstaff, nounstate, nounstatehood, nounStatehouse, nounstate line, nounstate of emergency, nounstatewide, adjectivesubject, adjectivesubject, verbsultanate, nounsummit, nounsuperpower, nounsuppress, verbsupranational, adjectivesurgery, nounsuzerainty, nountechnocracy, nounterritory, nounthrone, nountopple, verbtotalitarian, adjectivetown planning, nountownship, nountransit visa, nountreaty, nountribalism, nountripartite, adjectivetrusteeship, nountsarism, nountyrant, nountzarism, noununconstitutional, adjectiveunification, noununify, verbunilateral, adjectiveunion, nounUnion Jack, nounvassal, nounVIP, nounviscount, nounviscountess, nounwelfare state, nounWhitehall, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY► unilateral disarmament
a unilateral action or decision is done by only one of the groups involved in a situation → bilateral, multilateral: (=when one country gets rid of its own nuclear weapons without waiting for other countries to do the same)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► unilateral disarmament (=involving only one country)· The United States adopted a policy of unilateral disarmament as a way to avoid another war.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► action· They should not be changed by unilateral action, nor by force.· I do not think that frontiers should be changed by force or by unilateral action.· It was a unilateral action that risked general war in support of a less than democratic government threatened by pro-Nasser Arabs.· She has a theory that the big players are losing their nerve, but she thinks it's all unilateral action.· Global environmental problems, such as deforestation and ozone depletion, should be tackled through inter-governmental agreements, rather than unilateral action.
► ceasefire· The dynamite was split between Eta, then nominally observing a unilateral ceasefire, and the Bretons.
► decision· We felt that there can be no question of fairness when the law effectively endorses unilateral decision.
► declaration· They are a unilateral declaration by the man that he need not trouble about the formalities expected between non-intimates.· Nicky has run up a unilateral declaration of independence.
► disarmament· Not so long ago Mr Kinnock was strongly committed to unilateral disarmament.· Here Mr Kinnock should set out clearly why, in the Gorbachev era, negotiated rather than unilateral disarmament is almost always preferable.· The executive is recommending rejection of a motion calling for unilateral disarmament.· This was solved by the nuclear genes enforcing their preference for peace through unilateral disarmament.
a unilateral declaration of independenceunilateral disarmament (=when one country gets rid of its own nuclear weapons without waiting for other countries to do the same)—unilateralism noun [uncountable]—unilaterally adverb