unity

noun

uni·​ty ˈyü-nə-tē 

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

Synonyms

• balance
• coherence
• concinnity
• consonance
• consonancy
• harmony
• orchestration
• proportion
• symmetry
• symphony

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 on the Web

The family plunge photo came hours after President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden called for unity on the Today show during NBC's coverage of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. —Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023

Scott was joined by Democratic leaders of the Senate in announcing the joint legislative priorities — a noteworthy show of unity for two bodies that usually treat one another as rivals, regardless of party control. —Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023

Becker shows that proponents of Brexit talked surprisingly little about the past and tried, in fact, to hang nostalgia’s toxic millstone around the necks of Remainers, accusing them of a softhearted attachment to the now sclerotic dream of European unity. —Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2023

In addition, it’s designed to bridge the distances between all kinds of differences—and encourage unity and empathy across people and groups. —Tracy Brower, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

Now, that's driven by a lot of Republican unity on that idea. —CBS News, 5 Nov. 2023

Gestures spread from one performer to another, bringing them into brief, precarious unities of movement, moments when all dozen or so dancers, each of whom had been pursuing his or her own course around the floor, were suddenly nodding their heads and pointing their fingers in exactly the same way. —Will Heinrich, New York Times, 4 Nov. 2023

Until now, Ukraine had shown solid national unity with political rivalries set aside as the country fought back against the Russian invasion. —Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out holding elections next year, calling for political unity as his government seeks to retain Western support and public trust after a disappointing counteroffensive. —James Marson, WSJ, 7 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

unity

noun

uni·​ty ˈyü-nət-ē 

plural unities

1

: the quality or state of being one

2

: the state of those that are in full agreement : harmony

3

a

: a mathematical quantity or combination of quantities treated as equivalent to one in a calculation

called the distance between earth and the sun unity and calculated other distances as multiples

b

: identity element

4

: the combination or arrangement of parts in a work of art or literature that produces a total effect

Legal Definition

unity

noun

uni·​ty ˈyü-nə-tē 

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.