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unique

yoo-NEEK/juːˈniːk/

4 meanings of unique

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  1. 1
    one of a kindadjective
    Being the only one of its kind, without equal or parallel.

    The manuscript is unique, the only surviving copy from that period.

    Their approach to the problem was unique, unlike anything attempted before.

    UsageCareful writers avoid very unique or more unique in this meaning. Name the special trait with in: unique in its design.

    Similarsingular

    Note

    The absolute sense, and the one careful writers guard. It often names the distinguishing trait with in: Einstein's Relativity: The Special and General Theory, in Robert W. Lawson's 1920 translation, calls the sphere unique in possessing a property. Graded uses belong to the looser "unusual" sense.

  2. 2
    adjective
    Remarkable or unusual; of a rare and uncommon quality.

    The festival offered a rather unique blend of music and dance.

    She brought a unique perspective to the team's discussions.

    UsageOften graded: rather unique, very unique, more unique. Usage guides object, so in careful writing prefer unusual, rare or remarkable.

    Similarunusual, remarkable, rare, special, uncommon

    Oppositecommon, ordinary, usual, typical

    Note

    J.D. Salinger's For Esmé: With Love and Squalor (1950) has "we were fairly unique."

  3. 3
    adjective
    Belonging to or typical of only one particular person, place or thing, and found nowhere else.

    The enzyme is unique to this species and appears in no other organism.

    This dialect feature is unique to the island's oldest residents.

    UsageUsually unique to + the person, place or group: unique to this species.

    Oppositecommon

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nouncountable
    Something without a like; an object or being that stands alone as one of a kind.

    Deep in the dungeon, players finally meet the uniques, named monsters far tougher than ordinary foes.

    Rare-book dealers prize a unique above almost anything, since no rival copy can ever turn up to lower its value.

    Note

    A noun that has lived two quite different lives. Thomas De Quincey calls the phoenix "the unique of birds," a literary flourish in which of names the class the thing stands apart from. In John Harris's Exploring Roguelike Games (2020), uniques are named monsters such as Sauron and Morgoth. In that gaming usage the plural uniques is the ordinary form.

    Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

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Origin

English took it from French "unique." Its parts match those of "any," which makes the two words piecewise doublets.