unibody

noun

uni·​body ˈyü-nə-ˌbä-dē 

plural unibodies

: a single structural unit of an automobile consisting of a combined chassis and body

Weight was shaved by 800 pounds from the outgoing model with an aluminum unibody instead of body-on-frame construction …

—Robert Duffer

—often used before another noun

Unibody construction was brought on by demands on automakers to produce lighter, more fuel-efficient models.

—Carl Larsen

compare monocoque, space frame

Examples of unibody in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The iPhone 13 has an aluminum frame with a glass back, while the iPhone 18 Pro models feature an aluminum unibody design. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

It’s also built on a unibody chassis as opposed to a body-on-frame chassis. — New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026

Its integrated unibody clip attaches to laptops, monitors or standard tripods and it can be used in landscape, portrait and even upside-down orientations. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

The Passport has a smooth ride quality and features a unibody design, like its close sibling the Honda Ridgeline. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unibody

• afterbody
• antibody
• busybody
• everybody
• autoantibody
• bawdy
• body
• gaudy
• khadi
• mahdi
• noddy
• oddi