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(of an action) taken by only one side or group involved in a situation
- In a move that surprised its trading partners, the government imposed a unilateral trade embargo, restricting imports from a specific country without prior negotiation.
- As a gesture of goodwill, the country declared a unilateral ceasefire, temporarily halting military operations without expecting a reciprocal response.
- By exercising veto power, the president took a unilateral action to block the legislation, triggering surprise and disagreement among lawmakers.
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2
related to tracing the line of one's ancestors only through one gender
- Unilateral descent is a system of kinship in which descent can be traced through only one gender.
- The unilateral nature of inheritance in the clan ensures that property and prestige pass down through specific family lines.