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
Alexandra Skores, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment was one of 39 units in a co-op building rented out to university students; in the decades since, it’s been converted into condo units.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 13 Dec. 2024
On Wednesday, the commission voted in favor of Venice Dell after negotiations with developers, Venice Community Housing and Hollywood Community Housing Corp. led to a reduction of 20 units to better accommodate public access on the site to a boat launch in the canals.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
This assumes that those relationships are even in the system—one of the business units may go rogue, hire a vendor and send them company data.
—Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unit 
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Noun
Damage occurred throughout the cabin, including a passenger service unit that fell from an overhead carrier and missing ceiling panels.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment was one of 39 units in a co-op building rented out to university students; in the decades since, it’s been converted into condo units.
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 13 Dec. 2024
On Wednesday, the commission voted in favor of Venice Dell after negotiations with developers, Venice Community Housing and Hollywood Community Housing Corp. led to a reduction of 20 units to better accommodate public access on the site to a boat launch in the canals.
—Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024
This assumes that those relationships are even in the system—one of the business units may go rogue, hire a vendor and send them company data.
—Aleksandr Yampolskiy, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
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 17 Dec. 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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