unilatérale

Unilatérale is the feminine form of the French adjective unilatéral, meaning unilateral in English. It is used to describe actions, decisions, or characteristics that originate from or apply to only one side, party, or aspect. The term comes from Latin unus (one) and lateral (side).

In law and politics, unilatérale appears in phrases that denote measures taken by a single actor without the agreement of others. Examples include action unilatérale, déclaration unilatérale, and sanctions unilatérales. A unilateral declaration of independence, for instance, is a proclamation by a region or entity seeking statehood without a negotiated, multilateral process. Unilateral sanctions are restrictions imposed by one state or bloc on another, without consent from the target or its allies.

In medicine and anatomy, unilatérale is used to describe manifestations affecting only one side of the body. Terms such as une perte auditive unilatérale (unilateral hearing loss) or douleur unilatérale (unilateral pain) indicate asymmetry in symptoms or disease presentation. The concept also appears in imaging and clinical assessment to distinguish between unilateral and bilateral conditions.

In linguistics and communication, unilatérale can refer to one-way processes, such as une communication unilatérale (one-way communication), where information travels in only one direction.

See also: unilateral, bilateral, multilateral, unilaterally.