unit

noun \ ˈyü-nət \

Definition of unit

1 a :the first and least natural number :one

b :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 as

a :an amount of work used in education in calculating student credits

b :an amount of a biologically active agent (such as a drug or antigen) required to produce a specific result — compare international unit

3 a :a single thing, person, or group that is a constituent of a whole

b :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 function

d :a part of a school course focusing on a central theme

e :a local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses

f :a small molecule especially when combined in a larger molecule

repeating units of a polymer

g :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

The unit was created to investigate firearms crimes.

— kasey jones, The Seattle Times, "Ex-head of police gun unit charged with robbery, extortion," 30 Aug. 2017
There have been 2,633 multifamily unit permits issued in the first six months of this year, compared to 3,825 at the same time in 2016.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "What you need to know about San Diego's homebuilding slump," 30 Aug. 2017
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13): Jags defense added veteran Calais Campbell to what could be pretty stout unit, and top-pick running back Leonard Fournette should goose the offense.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "See who’s No. 1 and where Dolphins land in our annual NFL Team Rankings," 30 Aug. 2017
Patients who develop a dangerous complication, in which the immune system overreacts and attacks vital organs, might need coverage for emergency room care, as well as lengthy stays in the intensive care unit.

— liz szabo, Kaiser Health News, "Pioneering Cancer Gene Therapy Gets Green Light — And $475,000 Price Tag," 30 Aug. 2017
But by 1994 the unit had hit a downturn, and some of its top writers, like David Halberstam and Ken Follett, had left.

— richard sandomir, New York Times, "Howard Kaminsky, Publisher With a Best-Seller Sense, Dies at 77," 29 Aug. 2017
Stephenson is the holder for the field goal and PAT units.

— kevin lonnquist, star-telegram, "Grapevine’s defense got decimated. Here’s why the new football coach isn’t concerned," 28 Aug. 2017
Michael Deboard, 60, was pronounced dead at 3:19 p.m. Aug 21 at Presence St. Joseph Hospital's intensive care unit, according to the Will County Coroner's office.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "Braidwood man dies of injuries from Aug. 9 crash on I-55," 24 Aug. 2017
At this stage, an air separation unit produces a stream of almost-pure oxygen, which flows into a coal gasifier.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "How Does Clean Coal Work?," 23 Aug. 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! Time Traveler

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

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