unity

noun uni·ty \ ˈyü-nə-tē \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of unity

plural unities

1 a : the quality or state of not being multiple : oneness

b (1) : a definite amount taken as one or for which 1 is made to stand in calculation

in a table of natural sines the radius of the circle is regarded as unity

(2) : identity element

2 a : a condition of harmony : accord

b : continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action)

3 a : the quality or state of being made one : unification

b : a combination or ordering of parts in a literary or artistic production that constitutes a whole or promotes an undivided total effect; also : the resulting singleness of effect or symmetry and consistency of style and character

4 : a totality of related parts : an entity that is a complex or systematic whole

5 : any of three principles of dramatic structure derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poetics and requiring a play to have a single action represented as occurring in one place and within one day

6 capitalized : a 20th century American religious movement that emphasizes spiritual sources of health and prosperity

See unity defined for English-language learners

See unity defined for kids

Examples of unity in a Sentence

a sense of national unity
there's an aesthetic unity to the sculpture garden that makes it an ideal spot for quiet relaxing

Recent Examples of unity from the Web

But that unusual show of political unity quickly comes apart when the question turns to what, exactly, needs to be done and how to go about it.

— john wildermuth, San Francisco Chronicle, "How to fix California’s roads, bridges, dams: Candidates for governor share views," 30 Apr. 2018
On Tuesday, the governor’s press secretary, Dani Lever, said the governor continued to argue in favor of Democratic unity.

— New York Times, "Felder, a Democrat, Says He Will Remain With Republicans," 24 Apr. 2018
Indeed, unity was a common theme throughout the telecast.

— jeff nelson, PEOPLE.com, "Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, More Open ACMs with Somber Tribute to Las Vegas Shooting Victims," 15 Apr. 2018
That the moment of civic unity felt distant or even exclusionary to some is part of the story, too.

— nestor ramos, BostonGlobe.com, "Fragments of tragedy, and of our best selves," 14 Apr. 2018
What is helping, Carlos believes, is the unity between MSD students.

— ella cerón, Teen Vogue, "Parkland Survivor Carlos Rodriguez on Using #StoriesUntold to Amplify Minority Voices," 5 Apr. 2018
So far, Trump has been spared a major foreign policy crisis or an economic meltdown that puts his capacity to lead with coherence, speed, organization and in a way that foments national unity on the line.

— stephen collinson, CNN, "Trump embraces his instincts at a key global moment," 2 Apr. 2018
Mariann Őry, who runs foreign news at the conservative Hungarian daily Magyar Hírlap, points out that Fidesz lost in Hódmezővásárhely only because every other party backed Márki-Zay in an unprecedented show of political unity.

— orlando crowcroft, Newsweek, "Europe's Far Right is Flourishing—Just Ask Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s Prime Minister," 20 Mar. 2018
Promoting unity From 9:42 until 10:12, about 800 students gathered on the Argo High School football field to form a circle around 17 student desks with 17 balloons, Superintendent Jill Kingsfield said.

— donna vickroy, Daily Southtown, "'We all want a voice': Southland students say #ENOUGH through walkouts, remembrances," 14 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of unity

Middle English unite, from Anglo-French unité, from Latin unitat-, unitas, from unus one — more at one

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

unity Synonyms

UNITY Defined for English Language Learners

unity

noun

Definition of unity for English Language Learners

: the state of being in full agreement
: a way of combining the parts in a work of art or literature so that they seem to belong together

UNITY Defined for Kids

unity

noun uni·ty \ ˈyü-nə-tē \

Definition of unity for Students

plural unities

1 : the quality or state of being one

2 : the state of those who are in full agreement : harmony

Why can't we live in unity?

Law Dictionary

unity

noun uni·ty \ ˈyü-nə-tē \

legal Definition of unity

plural unities

1 : the quality or state of not being multiple : the quality or state of being one, single, whole, or the same

only if there is unity of ownership of the immovable and movables

2 : an aspect (as time, title, interest, or possession) of a joint tenancy that must be identical as it relates to the cotenants

such a conveyance severs the joint tenancy by removing the unities of time and title

Note: At common law, all four unities were required to be present for a joint tenancy. Conveying the interests of the cotenants at the same time creates the unity of time. Conveying the interests of the cotenants in the same instrument creates the unity of title. Conveying the same interest (as fee simple absolute) to the cotenants creates the unity of interest. Conveying a common right of possession or enjoyment creates the unity of possession.