unanimous
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for unanimous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Agreed to by everyone, with no one dissenting.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use unanimous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
unanimous vote
unanimous decision
unanimous agreement
Etymology
From Latin unanimus, "of one mind," combining unus ("one") and animus ("mind, spirit").
Full origin of unanimous →Frequently asked questions
What does “unanimous” mean?
The word “unanimous” means agreed to by everyone, with no one dissenting. In plain terms, everyone involved agrees, with no exceptions.
How do you pronounce “unanimous”?
“Unanimous” is pronounced yoo-NANIH-muhs (/juˈnænəməs/ in IPA).
How do you use “unanimous” in a sentence?
Here is “unanimous” used in a sentence: “The board reached a unanimous decision to approve the merger.”
What part of speech is “unanimous”?
“Unanimous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unanimous” come from?
The word “unanimous” comes from Latin. From Latin unanimus, "of one mind," combining unus ("one") and animus ("mind, spirit").
Is “unanimous” a common word?
“Unanimous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between unanimous and majority?
Unanimous means agreed to by everyone, with no one dissenting, while a majority means more than half agree but some may still disagree. A unanimous vote is therefore a stronger, complete form of agreement than a majority vote.
What is the difference between unanimous and consensus?
Consensus often implies general agreement reached after discussion, which can tolerate minor reservations, while unanimous specifically means no one dissents at all. In practice, a consensus decision may still be described as unanimous if every participant formally agrees.
Can a vote be described as almost unanimous?
Strictly, unanimous means everyone agrees with no dissent, so a vote with even one dissenter is not truly unanimous. Phrases like almost unanimous are common in everyday speech but describe a near-complete rather than total agreement.
