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
: 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
William Earl, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024
The faux-constraints of vinyl were vaporized, and the album was no longer a necessary unit.
—C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Nine thousand units come from traditional album sales, while track sales supply the remaining 1,000.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Municipalities can also allow and encourage accessory dwelling units (ADUs), secondary dwellings like backyard cottages or basement apartments.
—Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
Nevertheless, geologists define epochs because such time units are useful, indeed indispensable to their work.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
Advertisement The governor’s plan seeks to expand a unit that was created in 2021 within the Department of Housing and Community Development to enforce local compliance with state housing law.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Expand All The fiancee of a Kendall man critically wounded in the April 6 mass shooting at Doral’s Martini Bar and her brother, who is in an intensive care unit, are filing a civil lawsuit alleging negligence by the club and CityPlace Doral on the night of the shooting.
—Verónica Egui Brito and, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Our research found that many hospitals forgo the cost and complexity of procuring, storing, and disbursing donor milk to infants in intensive care units, leaving large populations without access to this treatment.
—Sionika Thayagabalu and Dominick Lemas, STAT, 18 Apr. 2024
Noun
This contract could not have been achieved without the solidarity and fortitude shown by the entire bargaining unit throughout the negotiations.
—William Earl, Variety, 20 Apr. 2024
The faux-constraints of vinyl were vaporized, and the album was no longer a necessary unit.
—C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
Nine thousand units come from traditional album sales, while track sales supply the remaining 1,000.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Municipalities can also allow and encourage accessory dwelling units (ADUs), secondary dwellings like backyard cottages or basement apartments.
—Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024
Nevertheless, geologists define epochs because such time units are useful, indeed indispensable to their work.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2024
Advertisement The governor’s plan seeks to expand a unit that was created in 2021 within the Department of Housing and Community Development to enforce local compliance with state housing law.
—Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Expand All The fiancee of a Kendall man critically wounded in the April 6 mass shooting at Doral’s Martini Bar and her brother, who is in an intensive care unit, are filing a civil lawsuit alleging negligence by the club and CityPlace Doral on the night of the shooting.
—Verónica Egui Brito and, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2024
Our research found that many hospitals forgo the cost and complexity of procuring, storing, and disbursing donor milk to infants in intensive care units, leaving large populations without access to this treatment.
—Sionika Thayagabalu and Dominick Lemas, STAT, 18 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unit
Cite this Entry
“Unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unit. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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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