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
Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
And guess what—the counter gear unit had a vertical shaft, which means that this concept is not rear-wheel-drive but AWD.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Meadows said the last fire department unit cleared just before 5:15 a.m.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 Jan. 2025
The building is not air-conditioned, although some rooms have window units.
—James Barron, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unit 
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Noun
On the morning of Nov. 25, right after their move, the building managers boarded up several units on the second floor, including the Sanchez apartment.
—Armando L. Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025
And guess what—the counter gear unit had a vertical shaft, which means that this concept is not rear-wheel-drive but AWD.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Meadows said the last fire department unit cleared just before 5:15 a.m.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 Jan. 2025
The building is not air-conditioned, although some rooms have window units.
—James Barron, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unit
Dictionary Entries Near unit
Cite this Entry
“Unit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unit. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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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