Bilateral

How to spell bilateral

9 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce bilateral

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does bilateral mean?

1. adjectiveInvolving, affecting, or agreed by two sides or parties.

Bilateral in a sentence

• The two governments signed a bilateral trade agreement.

• The surgeon noted bilateral swelling in both knees.

Where does bilateral come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word is built from Latin parts that English assembled in the modern era. The prefix bi- means 'two', and the heart of the word is latus, the Latin noun for 'side' (its stem appears as later-, seen also in 'lateral' and 'collateral'). Tacking on the adjective ending -al produces the literal sense 'having or relating to two sides'. The word entered English in the early 1800s, first in scientific and anatomical writing for things symmetrical on both sides of the body, and it soon spread into law, diplomacy, and trade to describe agreements binding two parties equally. Remembering that latus means 'side' explains the single 't' and the -lateral ending that trips writers up.

How the word is built

• bi- (two)
• later- (from Latin latus, side)
• -al (adjective suffix)