# bilateral

/baɪˈɫætɝəɫ/ (US) · /baɪlˈætəɹəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bilateral
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. between two groups

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

involving two groups or countries, especially in an official agreement.

For teachers: involving two parties, groups, or nations, typically in a formal or diplomatic context.

- The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement to lower taxes on imports.
- The bilateral negotiations stalled when neither delegation was willing to compromise on the sensitive issue of maritime borders.

Usage: Commonly used in political and legal contexts to describe treaties or talks.

### 2. having two sides

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having two sides or parts that are the same.

For teachers: relating to or having two sides; specifically having symmetry where the left and right sides are mirror images.

- Most animals, including humans, have bilateral symmetry.
- The biologist noted that the specimen exhibited perfect bilateral symmetry, with identical markings on both the left and right wings.

### 3. family descent

adjective · CEFR C2 · Academic · Technical

tracing your family history through both your mother's and father's side.

For teachers: relating to a system of kinship where descent is traced through both the maternal and paternal lines.

- In many modern societies, people follow a bilateral system of family history.
- The researcher argued that bilateral descent patterns provided a more flexible social structure than strictly patrilineal systems.

### 4. a meeting

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a formal meeting between two people or groups.

For teachers: a formal discussion or meeting held between two parties, especially in diplomacy.

- The president held a bilateral with the prime minister before the main summit.
- Following the general assembly, the two leaders retired to a private room for a bilateral to discuss regional security.

## Examples

- The two countries signed a bilateral trade agreement.
- Diplomats are working on a bilateral treaty to reduce carbon emissions across their shared border.
- While multilateral frameworks offer broad cooperation, many leaders prefer bilateral negotiations to address specific security concerns that only affect their immediate neighbor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.