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 nounRobert DufferUnibody construction was brought on by demands on automakers to produce lighter, more fuel-efficient models.—Carl Larsen
compare monocoque, space frame
Carl LarsenExamples of unibody in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Pro is the first phone from Nothing to adopt a metal unibody design, with an aluminum chassis that covers a significant portion of the rear panel.
—Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
The creators describe the construction as a unibody, meaning there are no complex moving parts or fragile joints that could snap under the pressure.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026
Today’s Pathfinder and QX60 are both three-row SUVs that feature unibody construction that differentiates them from the three-row body-on-frame Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026
The Santa Cruz is built on a unibody platform, the same as the Hyundai Tucson SUV, which gives it a smoother, more car-like ride than a traditional body on frame truck.
—Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unibody
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Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
The creators describe the construction as a unibody, meaning there are no complex moving parts or fragile joints that could snap under the pressure.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2026
Today’s Pathfinder and QX60 are both three-row SUVs that feature unibody construction that differentiates them from the three-row body-on-frame Nissan Armada and Infiniti QX80.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 4 Feb. 2026
The Santa Cruz is built on a unibody platform, the same as the Hyundai Tucson SUV, which gives it a smoother, more car-like ride than a traditional body on frame truck.
—Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unibody
Cite this Entry
“Unibody.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unibody. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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