bilateral
adjective
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Since the prefix bi- means "two" in Latin, bilateral means essentially "two-sided". In the days when there were two superpowers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union regularly engaged in bilateral arms negotiations; such negotiations are much less common today. Sometimes bilateral refers to two sides of the same thing. A bilateral hip replacement, for instance, replaces both hip bones in the same operation. And bilateral symmetry (a term often used by biologists) refers to the fact that, in many organisms (such as humans), the left side is basically the mirror image of the right side.
Examples of bilateral in a Sentence
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Facilitating agricultural investment, promoting scientific collaboration and broadening bilateral trade would address pressing concerns, while encouraging Cuban citizens to remain and actively participate in the nation’s recovery.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
The two countries agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment in areas including mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and technology.
—Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who described the treaty as the most important step in the bilateral partnership in three decades.
—Niniek Karmini, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bilateral
Cite this Entry
“Bilateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bilateral. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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