unilateral

[/ˌjuːnɪˈlætərəl/]
adjective
unilateral
1. done by or affecting only one side, party, or country; not reciprocal
The government made a unilateral decision without consulting the opposition.
O governo tomou uma decisão unilateral sem consultar a oposição.
2. relating to or affecting only one side of the body
The patient experienced unilateral paralysis after the stroke.
O paciente experimentou paralisia unilateral após o acidente vascular cerebral.
3. in law, binding only one party; not requiring mutual agreement
A unilateral contract is formed when one party makes a promise in exchange for performance.
Um contrato unilateral é formado quando uma parte faz uma promessa em troca de uma prestação.
The term 'unilateral' is frequently used in Brazilian and Portuguese media when discussing international relations, government policies, and business negotiations. It carries a somewhat negative connotation when describing political or diplomatic decisions made without consensus, reflecting cultural values around consultation and agreement in negotiation contexts.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
one-sidedindependentautonomousarbitrarysole
Antonyms / Antônimos
bilateralmultilateralreciprocalmutualcooperative

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
unilateral
Standard usage in business, legal, and diplomatic contexts
Portugal
unilateral
Commonly used in formal and legal documents; identical usage to Brazilian Portuguese
Medical/Technical
unilateral
Used extensively in medical terminology across all Portuguese-speaking regions

Related Words

bilateralmultilateralunilateralismunilaterallylaterality

Related Idioms & Phrases

unilateral disarmament
unilateral action
unilateral decision
unilateral contract
unilateral mistake
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