lateral

adjective

ˈla-tə-rəl How to pronounce lateral (audio)
Definition of lateralnext
as in side
of, relating to, or located on one side from the lateral view you can see how thick the wall really is

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lateral Data collection to refine the technology Large car carriers present specific aerodynamic challenges due to their tall, flat side profiles and susceptibility to lateral winds. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026 Because seismic inertial forces are governed purely by a structure's mass rather than its weight, the lateral demand on a structure remains fully active while its gravitational restoring capacity is substantially diminished, Caluk added. — Leonard David, Space.com, 20 June 2026 Real-time visibility into network activity is critical for detecting breaches and identifying lateral movement before attackers can expand their reach across the environment. — Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Injury updates Venable said after the game that both Kyle Teel (sprained lateral collateral ligament) and Noah Schultz (right knee patellar tendinitis) will head to Charlotte for rehab assignments on Monday and join the Triple-A squad. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for lateral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lateral
side
Adjective
  • It is stored in plain text in RAM and can theoretically be accessed by administrators, cloud operators, hypervisors, or highly skilled attackers through malware, insider threats, or side-channel attacks.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Conducted at Washington University School of Medicine, the research looked at side-effect reports among veterans who had received either both vaccines in the same medical visit, or just a flu shot.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 June 2026
Definition of side

Browse Nearby Words

later
lateral
laterally
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Cite this Entry

“Lateral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lateral. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lateral

Nglish: Translation of lateral for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lateral

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