unilateral
adj.adj. describes a decision or action made by only one person or group in a situation where others are involved. You use this when someone acts alone without asking for agreement from the other side.
adj. performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a particular situation, without the agreement of others. Often used in legal, political, or diplomatic contexts to describe non-consensual actions.
The company made a unilateral decision to cancel the bonuses.
The country faced international criticism after its unilateral withdrawal from the climate treaty without consulting its regional partners.
Legal scholars argued that the unilateral modification of the contract terms rendered the entire agreement voidable, as it bypassed the mandatory arbitration clause agreed upon by both parties.
A modern creation (circa 1802), from New Latin ūnilaterālis (“one-sided”), from Latin ūnus (“one”) + laterālis (“sided, lateral”), equivalent to uni- + lateral.
Typically used attributively before a noun; frequently collocates with 'decision', 'action', 'declaration', or 'withdrawal'.