lateral meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

lateral

adj

UK /ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/ · US /ˈlætəɹəl/

Etymology Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

› To the side; of or pertaining to the side.

Anatomy, Biology, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences, Zoology, Zootomy Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.

The medial side of the knee faces the other knee, while the outer side of the knee is lateral.
A fish senses changes in hydrodynamic pressure with its lateral line.

Medicine, Pathology, Sciences Affecting the side or sides of the body, or confined to one side of the body.

The “Euphoria” and “Grey’s Anatomy” actor announced on Thursday that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.2025 April 10, Dan Heching, “Eric Dane shares that he has been diagnosed with ALS”, in CNN:

Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics Acting or placed at right angles to a line of motion or strain.

At the same level in hierarchy or rank, especially pertaining to a movement that does not involve a change in rank, status, or level.

Instead of a promotion, I opted for a lateral move to a similar position in the marketing department.
lateral hiring

1 more example

a lateral transfer

UK Non-linear or unconventional, as in, lateral thinking; outside the box.

Human sciences, Linguistics, Phonetics, Phonology, Sciences (of a consonant, especially the English clear l) Pertaining to speech sounds generated by partially blocking the egress of the airstream with the tongue, leaving space on one or both sides of the occlusion for air passage.

Antonyms: longitudinal, vertical
Derived terms: 125 terms
acousticolateral, ambilateral, anterodorsolateral, anterolateral, apicolateral, axiolateral, basolateral, basilateral, bilateral, caudolateral, centrolateral, collateral, contralateral, controlateral, costolateral, counterlateral, craniolateral, dextrolateral, distolateral, dorsolateral, ectolateral, equilateral, fricolateral, frontolateral, hemilateral, heterolateral, homolateral, inferolateral, intermediolateral, ipsilateral, isolateral, labiolateral, lateral aberration, lateral area, lateral canthus, lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, lateral cuneiform bone, lateral flow test, lateral fricative, lateral gene transfer, lateral geniculate nucleus, lateral hood, lateralise, lateralism, lateralist, laterality, lateralize, lateral line, laterally, lateral malleolus, lateral mal, lateral mark, lateral meningocele syndrome, lateral meristem, lateral moraine, lateralmost, lateraloccipital, lateral pass, lateral pectoral nerve, lateral pontine syndrome, lateral pterygoid muscle, lateral pterygoid nerve, lateral pterygoid plate, lateral raise, lateral rectus, lateral scale, lateral sclerosis, lateral sinus, lateral stratum, lateral sulcus, lateral surface, lateral thinker, lateral thinking, lateral transfer, lateralward, latericorn, latero-, laterolateral, left lateral, linguolateral, longilateral, matrilateral, mediolateral, mesiolateral, mesolateral, midlateral, monolateral, multilateral, nonlateral, obliquolateral, occipitolateral, octavolateral, octolateral, omnilateral, orbitolateral, palmarolateral, paralateral, patrilateral, plantolateral, plantarolateral, plurilateral, polylateral, posterolateral, posteriolateral, prolateral, proximolateral, quadrilateral, quinquelateral, retrolateral, right lateral, rostrolateral, sacrolateral, semilateral, septilateral, septolateral, sinistrolateral, sublateral, superolateral, supralateral, temporolateral, tetralateral, trilateral, unilateral, ventrolateral, ventrosublateral
Related terms: vastus lateralis

lateral

noun

Etymology Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

An object, such as a passage or a protrusion, that is situated on the side of something else.

Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences A sound produced through lateral pronunciation (such as /l/ in lateral).

American football, Ball games, Football, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports A lateral pass.

Business An employee hired for a position at the same organizational level or salary as their previous position.

A lateral canal, a canal built alongside an existing stream.

[…] Canal and laterals, section 4, and the first part of section 5; and Miller Canal and laterals.1956, United States House Appropriations Committee, Public Works Appropriations for 1957, page 703
Two-thirds of the drownings, or 103, occurred along the back of the canal or lateral. […] 4 drownings per year occurred in reaches of canals or laterals protected by fencing.1971, Howard S. Latham, James M. Verzuh, Reducing Hazards to People and Animals on Reclamation ..., page 7:

lateral

verb

Etymology Borrowed from Latin laterālis (“belonging to the side”), from latus (“the side or flank”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).

To move (oneself or something) in a lateral direction.

American football, Ball games, Football, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To execute a lateral pass.

Derived terms: lateraling