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

Other interesting items on the agenda include Sunflower Development Group’s multi-unit residential proposal near Gregory Boulevard and Prospect Avenue.

— lynn horsley, kansascity, "Horsley at City Hall: Jazz festival bounced checks, more Westport development," 17 July 2017
A national shortfall of 7.4 million affordable rental units has forced the country’s lowest-income renters to live month to month, always one medical problem or layoff away from losing another home.

— alden woods, azcentral, "'Here for the eviction': More renters forced from homes as affordable-housing crisis deepens," 16 July 2017
I’m caked in sand all over, and can’t wait to take a long shower, sit in front of my window AC unit, and put some Netflix on.

— The Cut, "The Marketing Assistant Drunk-Texting Her Creative Director," 16 July 2017
Wilkins leads a considerably strong defensive unit that is sure to carry Clemson.

— emmanuel morgan, charlotteobserver, "Has ACC become college football’s best conference? If you ask folks in Charlotte ...," 13 July 2017
Work on a big complex finally began at the Sepulveda station and some low-slung apartments were recently bulldozed near Vermont to make way for more dense units, but the area around most other stations remains unchanged—and bleak.

— neal broverman, Los Angeles Magazine, "Metro Just Dropped Some Stunning Expo Line Numbers," 12 July 2017
The other two towers, to be located at the MiamiCentral station in downtown, will offer a combined 816 units ranging from studios to three-bedrooms and are due in 2019.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "The builder of Florida’s high-speed train is getting into the apartment business," 12 July 2017
One operating room device kept surfacing: a heating and cooling unit (HCU) made by LivaNova (previously known as Sorin).

— michael price, Science | AAAS, "We may now know how a rare, lethal microbe infected dozens of people across the globe," 12 July 2017
Fox said the OnX Enterprise Solutions deal similarly helps Cincinnati Bell's business-to-business unit, CBTS, bulk up.

— alexander coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Bell acquires two peers for $851M," 10 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! 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

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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