bilateral

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'bilateral' is correct and can be used in written English.
The word 'bilateral' is an adjective that means something that involves two groups or sides. It is commonly used to describe a situation where two parties have the same interests or where a negotiation has taken place. For example: The US and China have signed a bilateral trade agreement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Let me assure you that my government is committed to working closely with you and your government during your tenure and most importantly, in pursuit of our bilateral relations.

The Guardian

We should withhold bilateral visits by ministers while the foreshadowed executions continue or for the rest of the year," McCarthy wrote for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

The Guardian

"This often happens following bilaterals, sometimes due to language preferences or protocols such as being able to cover broader international issues beyond the content of the bilateral," he said in a statement.

The Guardian

The thing is, hurried bilateral series' make financial sense in cricket's current ecosystem, but they'll never replicate what we once had in the Australian summer tri-series.

The Guardian - Sport

An open and comprehensive approach is nevertheless urgently needed, along with a moratorium on new bilateral or unilateral changes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Harsher critics accused him of embarrassing Australia's international standing and jeopardising bilateral ties by publishing his candid thoughts about foreign leaders and private conversations.

The Guardian

Bilateral tension remained high until summer 2008, when the two countries fought a five-day war over the territory of South Ossetia, which ended with Russian troops occupying parts of Georgia proper.

The Guardian

A DfID spokesman said: "The UK is the largest bilateral donor to Sierra Leone and our action in response to this unprecedented Ebola epidemic is already having a significant impact.

The Guardian

Many western countries have developed bilateral agreements with African countries in an effort to encourage retention.

The Guardian

The US president made his views known directly to David Cameron in a one-hour bilateral on the margins of the G7 summit, the first time the two men have met since Cameron was re-elected prime minister.

The Guardian

He says he does not recall surrogacy coming up in terms of the bilateral relationship between Australia and India.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bilateral" to clearly indicate that an agreement, relationship, or process involves two parties equally. Ensure the context supports this two-way interaction.

Common error

Avoid using "bilateral" when more than two parties are involved; in such cases, use "multilateral" or "international" to accurately reflect the scope of the interaction.

Linguistic Context

The word "bilateral" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate something that involves two sides or parties. Ludwig AI provides examples of "bilateral" modifying terms like "relations", "agreements", and "talks".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "bilateral" is an adjective signifying something involving two parties or sides, frequently used in international relations, business, and formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, particularly in contexts like "bilateral agreements" and "bilateral relations". While semantically similar alternatives exist, such as "mutual" or "two-sided", "bilateral" specifically emphasizes the formal and reciprocal nature of the interaction between two entities. To use "bilateral" effectively, ensure that only two parties are involved; otherwise, consider using "multilateral".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two-party

Directly refers to the involvement of two distinct parties in an agreement or interaction.

mutual

Emphasizes the shared nature of an action, feeling, or relationship between two parties.

reciprocal

Highlights the idea of actions or agreements done in return or in response to each other.

two-sided

Focuses on the physical characteristic of having two sides, applicable in contexts beyond just agreements or relationships.

joint

Suggests a shared effort or responsibility between two parties.

bi-national

Specifically relates to something involving two nations.

dual

Emphasizes the presence of two elements or aspects, which may not always imply interaction or agreement.

concerted

Implies a jointly planned or coordinated effort.

collaborative

Focuses on the cooperative aspect of a relationship or project.

agreed

Highlights that the two parts are in agreement or in harmony.

FAQs

How to use "bilateral" in a sentence?

You can use "bilateral" to describe agreements, relationships, or discussions involving two parties. For example, "The two countries signed a "bilateral trade agreement"" or "They held "bilateral talks" to resolve the issue".

What is a common context for using "bilateral"?

A common context is in international relations, referring to agreements or discussions between two countries. For example, "The leaders discussed "bilateral relations" during the summit".

What can I say instead of "bilateral"?

Depending on the context, you could use "mutual", "reciprocal", or "two-sided". For instance, "They have a "mutual agreement"" conveys a similar meaning.

What's the difference between "bilateral" and "multilateral"?

"Bilateral" refers to something involving two parties, while "multilateral" involves three or more. For example, a "bilateral agreement" is between two countries, whereas a multilateral treaty involves multiple nations.