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unary

adjective

una·​ry ˈyü-nə-rē How to pronounce unary (audio)
: having, consisting of, or acting on a single element, item, or component : monadic

Word History

Etymology

Latin unus one + English -ary

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unary was in 1923

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unary. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.

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