noun
Common
unity
YOO-nih-tee
Unity (noun) means the state of being one, whole, and undivided. Example: “The choir sang with such unity that it sounded like a single voice.”
noun
1
The state of being one, whole, and undivided.
"The choir sang with such unity that it sounded like a single voice."
"The team played with real unity, moving as a single organism."
"National unity is hard to maintain during a crisis."
2
Agreement and harmony between people or parts.
"Neighbours worked together in unity to clean up the park."
"There was little unity in the family when it came to choosing a holiday."
"The committee reached unity on the new policy after hours of debate."
3
In mathematics, the number 1, or an element that behaves like 1 under a given operation.
"Dividing any non-zero number by itself gives unity."
"The teacher showed that the product of a number and its inverse is unity."
"Any number raised to the power of zero equals unity."
How to use unity
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing one connected whole, or people agreeing and working together as if they were one.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "unanimity" (everyone agreeing on one specific vote) — unity is broader, about overall cohesion.
Common pairings
national unity
a sense of unity
unity among members
promote unity
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Word forms
- Plural
- unities
Fill the gap
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The choir sang with such _____ that it sounded like a single voice.
Etymology
From Old French unité, from Latin unitas ("oneness"), built on unus, "one" — the same root as "unite" and "union."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for unity
See all rhymes for unity →Frequently asked questions
What does “unity” mean?
The word “unity” means the state of being one, whole, and undivided. In plain terms, being one connected whole, or people agreeing and working together as if they were one.
How do you pronounce “unity”?
“Unity” is pronounced YOO-nih-tee (/ˈjunɪti/ in IPA).
How do you use “unity” in a sentence?
Here is “unity” used in a sentence: “The team played with real unity, moving as a single organism.”
What part of speech is “unity”?
“Unity” is a noun.
Where does the word “unity” come from?
The word “unity” comes from Latin. From Old French unité, from Latin unitas ("oneness"), built on unus, "one" — the same root as "unite" and "union.".
Is “unity” a common word?
“Unity” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “unity” have?
“Unity” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the state of being one, whole, and undivided.
What is the difference between 'unity' and 'union'?
'Unity' is the abstract state or quality of being one, whole, and in harmony, as in 'a sense of unity'. 'Union' more often names the concrete act or result of joining, or an organisation formed by joining, such as a trade union or a political union.
What is the difference between 'unity' and 'unison'?
'Unity' means being one, whole, and undivided, or in general agreement and harmony. 'Unison' is narrower and refers to doing something together at exactly the same time, as in 'they sang in unison' or 'nodding in unison'.
Is 'unity' a countable or uncountable noun?
'Unity' is normally uncountable, referring to the general state of being whole or in agreement, as in 'they worked in unity'. It takes no plural in everyday use, so you would say 'a spirit of unity' rather than 'unities'.
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