bilateralism
|bi-lat-er-al-ism|
🇺🇸
/ˌbaɪˈlætərəlɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ˌbaɪˈlæt(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/
two-sided relations
Etymology
'bilateralism' originates from English, formed from the adjective 'bilateral' plus the suffix '-ism'. 'Bilateral' comes from Latin 'bilateralis', where the prefix 'bi-' meant 'two' and 'latus' meant 'side'.
'bilateral' came into English via Medieval/Scientific Latin 'bilateralis' (literally 'two-sided'); English added the derivational suffix '-ism' (from Greek '-ismos' via Latin) to create 'bilateralism', used from the 19th–20th century especially in political and diplomatic contexts.
Initially the root referred simply to 'having two sides'; over time the combined English term 'bilateralism' acquired the specialized meaning of a policy or practice of two-party relations (especially in diplomacy and trade).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the practice, policy, or doctrine of conducting relations or agreements between two states, organizations, or parties rather than involving multiple parties.
The government's foreign policy emphasized bilateralism, preferring direct agreements with individual countries over broad multilateral treaties.
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Noun 2
the condition or quality of involving two sides or two aspects (general sense: two-sidedness).
Scholars discussed the bilateralism of the agreement, noting how responsibilities were split evenly between the two companies.
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Last updated: 2025/12/28 06:55