unit

1 of 2

noun

ˈyü-nət 

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 see also 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 matériel)

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

unit

2 of 2

adjective

: being, relating to, or measuring one unit

Examples of unit in a Sentence

Noun

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 on the Web

Noun

The unit also provided CNN with a library of programs that the company could repeat on TV and sell to streaming services and overseas broadcasters. —Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

But the overall story is clear, with the Zenbook Duo performing at about half the level in this test that the Snapdragon units did. —John Burek, PCMAG, 6 Apr. 2024

The Samara unit is built with insulated metal panels on the outside and two-by-six steel framing. —David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 5 Apr. 2024

Once connected, signals are sent from the main unit to the peripheral, and voila -- let the music play! —Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024

The units review photo and video near the area of the theft, process any available DNA evidence, and identify possible patterns in thefts. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

This offseason, the Carolina Panthers aimed to fortify their defense by keeping the unit’s young, promising core of playmakers together. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024

Family units and children would not be charged with any of the crimes created by the new law but would instead be handed over to Border Patrol agents, said Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for the agency's South Region. —Aarón Torres The Dallas Morning News (tns), arkansasonline.com, 26 Mar. 2024

The company has also seen outflows from other executive roles in the past few years, including Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing’s defense, space, and security unit, and senior vice president and treasurer David Dohnalek. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

back-formation from unity

First Known Use

Noun

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1633, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing unit

• absolute unit
• base unit
• central processing unit
• electromagnetic unit
• critical care unit
• motor unit
• unit circle
• unit character
• imaginary unit
• intensive care unit
• monetary unit
• canine unit
• inter-unit
• waste disposal unit
• unit trust
• kitchen unit
• living unit
• international unit
• atomic mass unit
• British thermal unit
• unit rule
• unit cell
• unit train
• unit membrane
• astronomical unit
• sub-unit

Kids Definition

unit

1 of 2 noun

ˈyü-nət 

1

a

: the first and smallest natural number : one

b

: a single quantity regarded as a whole in calculation

2

: a definite quantity (as of length, time, or value) used as a standard of measurement

the dollar is the unit of U.S. money

3

a

: a single thing or person or group that is a part of a whole

b

: a part or arrangement of parts performing one function

a train drawn by two diesel units

c

: a part of a school course with a central theme

unit

2 of 2 adjective

: being, relating to, or measuring one unit of

unit length

unit angle

Medical Definition

unit

noun

ˈyü-nət 

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