Lateral means: To the side; of or pertaining to the side.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
lateral
To the side; of or pertaining to the side.
Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026
Seen in the wild
BlueskyMay 2026
On the upside, you could make a lateral move to politics...because pretty much every FIFA piece this summer is also going to double as a politics piece.
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BlueskyMay 2026
Looking at it again, the second time looks deliberate, but with an odd lateral movement attached to it. The first time it's like he thinks to catch his flapping tie, then changes his mind halfway through. He looks kna…
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BlueskyMay 2026
25 años de R, una misión: conquistar el Nürburgring. El Golf R 24H llega con alerón gigante, escape lateral y cero concesiones 🏁 #Volkswagen #GolfR #Nürburgring
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BlueskyMay 2026
Gut Microbiome Ecological Network Destabilization in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Insights from In tegrated Oral–Gut Analysis #NeuroDegeneration 🧪🧠 https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-9353918/latest
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BlueskyMay 2026
🛒 Gabinete Gamer Aquário Acegeek Ori Mini-Tower Lateral de Vidro, Com 3 Fans 💵 POR: R$ 96 🏷 Resgate o cupom 20% OFF 🔗 https://s.shopee.com.br/AUqbqDfGhn ➡️ Gabinete 🔗 https://s.shopee.com.br/70Gjg5Biiy
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Definitions
UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(UK) Non-linear or unconventional, as in, lateral thinking.
Cluster: general
Heard in the wild
“On the upside, you could make a lateral move to politics...because pretty much every FIFA piece this summer is also going to double as a politics piece.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Looking at it again, the second time looks deliberate, but with an odd lateral movement attached to it. The first time it's like he thinks to catch his flapping tie, then changes his mind halfway through. He looks knackered though.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“25 años de R, una misión: conquistar el Nürburgring. El Golf R 24H llega con alerón gigante, escape lateral y cero concesiones 🏁 #Volkswagen #GolfR #Nürburgring”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Gut Microbiome Ecological Network Destabilization in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Insights from In tegrated Oral–Gut Analysis #NeuroDegeneration 🧪🧠 https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-9353918/latest”
— Bluesky· May 2026“🛒 Gabinete Gamer Aquário Acegeek Ori Mini-Tower Lateral de Vidro, Com 3 Fans 💵 POR: R$ 96 🏷 Resgate o cupom 20% OFF 🔗 https://s.shopee.com.br/AUqbqDfGhn ➡️ Gabinete 🔗 https://s.shopee.com.br/70Gjg5Biiy”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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UK
#3·Apr 27, 2026UK
(phonetics, phonology) (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.
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Show 1 more dictionary-style sense (imported)
UK
#1·Apr 27, 2026UK
To the side; of or pertaining to the side.
For parents
Lateral means: To the side; of or pertaining to the side.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
lateral means: To the side; of or pertaining to the side.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "lateral" (L)
latencylatency checklatency codedlatency energylatency modelaterlater, gatorlater onlater, skaterlater, taterlatesomelathi
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