relating to the side of something, or moving in a sideways direction, a pass or movement made sideways

lateral thinking, lateral pass, lateral epicondylitis

Formal and Informal Expressions of lateral

In different contexts, you can replace 'lateral' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'sideways, peripheral' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'side-to-side, horizontal' is a commonplace synonym.

lateral: Explore its Definition & Usage

lateral Definition

1relating to the side of something, or moving in a sideways direction
2a pass or movement made sideways

Using lateral: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "lateral" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The car has a lateral stripe painted on its side.
Example
The athlete made a lateral move to avoid the defender.
Example
The company is looking for someone with lateral thinking skills.

lateral Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for lateral

Antonyms for lateral

Phrases with lateral

lateral thinking
a way of thinking that seeks to solve problems through unorthodox methods or indirect and creative approaches
Example
The team used lateral thinking to come up with a unique solution to the problem.
lateral pass
a pass made sideways, typically in football or rugby
Example
The quarterback made a lateral pass to the running back.
lateral epicondylitis
a medical condition commonly known as tennis elbow, which causes pain and inflammation in the elbow joint
Example
He was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis after experiencing pain in his elbow.

Origins of lateral

from Latin 'lateralis', meaning 'belonging to the side'

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Summary: lateral in Brief

The term 'lateral' [ˈlætərəl] refers to something relating to the side of an object or moving in a sideways direction. It can be used as both an adjective and a noun, such as in 'The athlete made a lateral move to avoid the defender.' 'Lateral' also extends into phrases like 'lateral thinking,' which denotes creative problem-solving, and 'lateral pass,' a type of pass in football or rugby.