# lateral

/ˈɫætɝəɫ/ (US) · /lˈætəɹəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to the side

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

relating to the side of something, rather than the front, back, or middle.

For teachers: relating to, situated at, or extending from the side. Often used in anatomical or technical descriptions to distinguish from medial or vertical planes.

- The bird has lateral stripes running along the side of its body.
- The surgeon made a lateral incision to avoid damaging the central nerves located along the patient's spine.

### 2. unconventional thinking

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English

solving problems by using your imagination and looking at them from a new or unusual angle.

For teachers: referring to a method of problem-solving that avoids traditional step-by-step logic in favour of unconventional or creative associations.

- We need some lateral thinking to solve this tricky puzzle.
- The consultant encouraged lateral thinking, suggesting that the team abandon their linear approach to market expansion in favour of more radical alternatives.

### 3. linguistics

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describes a speech sound made by letting air escape around the sides of your tongue.

For teachers: pertaining to an articulation where the airflow is obstructed centrally by the tongue but allowed to escape along one or both sides.

- The 'l' sound in 'leaf' is a lateral consonant.
- Phoneticists categorise the English clear 'l' as an alveolar lateral approximant because the tongue tip touches the roof of the mouth while air flows past the sides.

### 4. business hire

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person who is hired for a new job at the same level as their old one.

For teachers: a professional hire recruited from another organisation for a role at an equivalent level of seniority or compensation.

- The law firm brought in two new laterals to strengthen their tax department.
- The company prefers lateral hires for senior management roles as they bring immediate expertise without the need for extensive internal training.

### 5. sport pass

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a pass in American football or rugby that goes sideways or backwards.

For teachers: a pass thrown in a direction parallel to the goal line or towards the passer's own goal.

- The quarterback threw a quick lateral to the running back.
- The play failed when the lateral was fumbled, allowing the opposing team to recover the ball deep in the red zone.

### 6. to move sideways

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to move yourself or an object to the side.

For teachers: to move or transition in a sideways direction; frequently used in corporate contexts to describe moving to an equivalent role.

- She decided to lateral into a different department to learn new skills.
- Rather than seeking a promotion, he chose to lateral into the research division to broaden his technical portfolio.

## Examples

- She decided to take a lateral to the marketing department.
- After five years in sales, he requested a lateral into product development to learn a new side of the business.
- The company encourages internal laterals to ensure that senior management possesses a holistic understanding of various departmental operations before they ascend to executive roles.

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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.