English · Word Candidate

lateral

/ˈlæt(ə)ɹəl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: laterals · lateraling · lateralling · lateraled

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To the side; of or pertaining to the side. — Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.

Adjective

Examples

The medial side of the knee faces the other knee, while the outer side of the knee is lateral.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To the side; of or pertaining to the side. — Affecting the side or sides of the body, or confined to one side of the body.

Adjective

Examples

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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

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

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A sound produced through lateral pronunciation (such as /l/ in lateral).

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “lateral” mean?

To the side; of or pertaining to the side. — Situated on one side or other of the body or of an organ, especially in the region furthest from the median plane.

Is “lateral” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.