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
Feet and meters are both units of length.
: 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
The family is the basic unit of society.
The search party broke up into smaller units.
b
: a part of a military establishment that has a prescribed organization (as of personnel and matériel)
c(1)
: a piece or complex of apparatus serving to perform one particular function
an air conditioning unit
(2)
: a set of similar pieces of furniture that are grouped or attached together
a built-in storage/wall unit
(3)
: an individual item of the products that a company makes or sells
d
: a part of a school course focusing on a central theme
finished the unit on the American Revolution
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
h
: one of a number of apartment or residences in a building or complex
: 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
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
On land more than 200 feet away but within a quarter mile of a stop, the project can include 100 units per acre and be up to 65 feet tall.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Within weeks of the invasion, when Russian units failed to quickly capture Kyiv, Putin switched to pursuing a war of attrition.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Around eight months before filming, the stunt team – led by second unit director Kyle Gardiner and fight coordinators Michael Lehr and Malay Kim – showed him the previs, giving him time to shape the sequences and add Kung Lao’s signature Wing Chun punches and teleportation movements.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unit
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The recall, which was published on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website on May 1, is related to an infotainment control unit software issue that can cause the critical instrument data to go blank.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
On land more than 200 feet away but within a quarter mile of a stop, the project can include 100 units per acre and be up to 65 feet tall.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
Within weeks of the invasion, when Russian units failed to quickly capture Kyiv, Putin switched to pursuing a war of attrition.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Around eight months before filming, the stunt team – led by second unit director Kyle Gardiner and fight coordinators Michael Lehr and Malay Kim – showed him the previs, giving him time to shape the sequences and add Kung Lao’s signature Wing Chun punches and teleportation movements.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unit
Cite this Entry
“Unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unit. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unit
1 of 2 noun1
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
noun1
: 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
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