unit

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the first and least natural number : one
b
: a single quantity regarded as a whole in calculation
2
: a determinate quantity (as of length, time, heat, or value) adopted as a standard of measurement: such as
a
: an amount of work used in education in calculating student credits
b
: an amount of a biologically active agent (such as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result see also international unit
3
a
: a single thing, person, or group that is a constituent of a whole
b
: a part of a military establishment that has a prescribed organization (as of personnel and matériel)
c
: a piece or complex of apparatus serving to perform one particular function
d
: a part of a school course focusing on a central theme
e
: a local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses
f
: a small molecule especially when combined in a larger molecule
repeating units of a polymer
g
: an area in a medical facility and especially a hospital that is specially staffed and equipped to provide a particular type of care
an intensive care unit

unit

2 of 2

adjective

: being, relating to, or measuring one unit

Examples of unit in a Sentence

Noun The family is the basic unit of society. The search party broke up into smaller units. Their army unit guarded the border. Feet and meters are units of length. The dollar is the principal unit of American currency.
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Noun
Also assessed are carbon productivity, meaning the amount of revenue produced per unit of carbon emissions, plus racial and gender diversity. Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 The commissioners don’t want the unit value to decrease with the additional teams, so the networks need to ante up. Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 28 June 2025 Anyone with information are urged to asked to contact homicide unit detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-8477. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2025 The development team has also announced plans to build up to 50,000 new units of workforce housing across the city over 20 years if selected. Téa Kvetenadze, New York Daily News, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for unit

Word History

Etymology

Noun

back-formation from unity

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1633, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unit was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unit. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

unit

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the first and smallest natural number : one
b
: a single quantity regarded as a whole in calculation
2
: a definite quantity (as of length, time, or value) used as a standard of measurement
the dollar is the unit of U.S. money
3
a
: a single thing or person or group that is a part of a whole
b
: a part or arrangement of parts performing one function
a train drawn by two diesel units
c
: a part of a school course with a central theme

unit

2 of 2 adjective
: being, relating to, or measuring one unit of
unit length
unit angle

Medical Definition

unit

noun
1
: an amount of a biologically active agent (as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result under strictly controlled conditions
a unit of penicillin
see international unit
2
: a small molecule especially when combined in a larger molecule
repeating units of a polymer
3
: an area in a medical facility and especially a hospital that is specially staffed and equipped to provide a particular type of care
an intensive care unit

More from Merriam-Webster on unit

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