unit

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noun \ˈyü-nət\

Definition of unit

1a : the first and least natural number : oneb : 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 asa : an amount of work used in education in calculating student creditsb : an amount of a biologically active agent (such as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result — compare international unit
3a : a single thing, person, or group that is a constituent of a wholeb : a part of a military establishment that has a prescribed organization (as of personnel and materiel)c : a piece or complex of apparatus serving to perform one particular functiond : a part of a school course focusing on a central themee : a local congregation of Jehovah's Witnessesf : a small molecule especially when combined in a larger molecule repeating units of a polymerg : 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

See unit defined for English-language learners

See unit defined for kids

Examples of unit in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of unit from the Web

Vancouver, B.C., introduced new restrictions on Airbnb, Expedia’s HomeAway unit and other short-term rental operators as Canada’s priciest housing market seeks to ease its near-zero supply of homes to let.

— gerrit de vynck, The Seattle Times, "Vancouver, B.C., extends Airbnb, HomeAway rules as home prices keep rising", 5 July 2017
Shortlisted bidders will now conduct detailed due diligence and hold meetings with the unit’s management, the people said, asking not to be identified because the details are private.

— brett foley, Bloomberg.com, "ANZ Narrows Bidders in $3 Billion Sale of Wealth Business", 5 July 2017
Mr. Scalise has undergone several surgeries and was moved out of the intensive care unit on June 22.

— matthew haag, New York Times, "Steve Scalise Is Moved Back to I.C.U. Three Weeks After Shooting", 5 July 2017
Many of them have set up units in Britain to buy quotas from British fishermen.

— The Economist, "A spat about seafood shows the compromises that Brexit will force", 5 July 2017
The center operates as a unit of the Henry W. Bloch School of Management.

— diane stafford, kansascity, "UMKC’s Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership gets Kauffman Foundation grant", 5 July 2017
About 125 units participated this year, according to Perry Thompson, a parade marshal.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Multiple generations enjoy Bel Air Fourth of July parade", 5 July 2017
Heavily armed counterterrorism units will mingle among spectators, officers will have portable radiation detection devices and bomb-sniffing dogs, and officers will be stationed on rooftops to look out for any sign of trouble.

— CBS News, "U.S. celebrates Independence Day with fireworks, hot dog eating contest", 4 July 2017
Charlestonians made ready for a day of parades by militia units in colorful uniform.

— paul starobin, Smithsonian, "What Did Independence Day Mean to Southerners About to Secede?", 4 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'unit'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of unit

back-formation from unity

NEW!

First Known Use: 1570

See Words from the same year

Other Number-Related Terms

jubilee, myriad, quarantine, score, twain

unit

adjective

Definition of unit

: being, relating to, or measuring one unit

First Known Use of unit

1633

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

UNIT Defined for English Language Learners

unit

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noun

Definition of unit for English Language Learners

: a single thing, person, or group that is a part of something larger
: a part of a hospital where a particular type of care is provided
: a particular amount of length, time, money, etc., that is used as a standard for counting or measuring

UNIT Defined for Kids

unit

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noun \ˈyü-nət\

Definition of unit for Students

1 : a single thing, person, or group forming part of a whole There are 36 units in my apartment building.
2 : the least whole number : one
3 : a fixed quantity (as of length, time, or value) used as a standard of measurement An inch is a unit of length.
4 : a part of a school course with a central theme

Medical Dictionary

unit

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noun \ˈyü-nət\

Medical Definition of unit

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