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

Plus, everything is packed into a slim, metal unibody chassis with IP54 splash resistance. —Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 May 2026

Its all-metal unibody design is accompanied by a lightweight build, which helps keep the weight to a minimum, even with the keyboard case. —Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 7 May 2026

The Ford Maverick is the only truck on the list with a unibody construction opposed to a traditional body-on-frame design like its sibling the Ford Ranger. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 21 Apr. 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

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