English Reference
Adverb

unilaterally

adv. manner
C1 Advanced US /ˌjunəˈɫætɝəɫi/ UK /jˌuːnɪlˈætəɹəli/ uni·lat·er·al·ly

adv.done by one person, group, or country without asking or involving others. You use this when someone makes a big decision on their own that affects everyone.

adv.performed by or affecting only one person, group, or country involved in a situation, without the agreement of others.


SIMPLE

The manager unilaterally changed the office hours.

CONTEXTUAL

The country decided to unilaterally withdraw from the trade agreement, surprising its neighboring allies.

COMPLEX

Legal experts argued that the CEO could not unilaterally alter the terms of the contract without a formal vote from the board of directors.

Usage

Typically describes the manner in which a decision or action is taken; often placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.

That would not allow it to block legislation unilaterally, but it could table new policy initiatives and disrupt consensus.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026

Construction of a new dormitory for the school was approved in June, after the far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, unilaterally broke a decades-old international agreement on control of Hebron to give Israel planning authority.

The Guardian· 4 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated