unit

YOO-nit/ˈjuː.nɪt/

23 meanings of unit

1
organized teamnouncountable
A group of people or equipment organized to work together.
Like a team where each person has a job to do.
The rescue unit arrived within minutes of the call.
Each unit has its own leader and a clear set of tasks.
Similarteam, department, section, division, group
2
machinenouncountable
A single machine or piece of equipment, such as an appliance or computer.
The air conditioning unit broke down during the heat wave.
The repairman said our freezer unit needs a new fan.
Similardevice, machine, appliance
3
apartmentnounAustraliaNew ZealandUScountable
A single home for one household, like an apartment in a larger building.
Like one apartment that is a complete home on its own.
They rented a small unit near the train station.
Every unit in the building has its own kitchen.
Similarapartment, flat, dwelling
Note
4
nouncountable
A standard amount used to measure, count, or give out something.
Like using the same size cup so everyone knows how much you mean.
The meter is a unit of length used all over the world.
Scientists need the same units so their results can be compared.
UsageSay a unit of length, time or money.
Similarmeasure
Note
5
nouncountable
A group of soldiers with its own leaders and equipment that works as one part of a larger military force.
Like one team that is part of a much bigger group.
The unit was sent to guard the bridge overnight.
Two units trained together before the mission.
Similardetachment, formation
Note
6
nouncountable
A single item that can be sold on its own.
Like buying one apple instead of the whole bag.
The store sells each unit for five dollars.
We ordered fifty units of the new phone case.
UsageUsed in business: the shop sold 500 units.
Similaritem, piece
Note
7
per itemadjective
Counted or charged for each single item.
Like the price written for one item so you can compare easily.
The store showed the unit price next to each product.
We compared the unit cost of the two brands.
UsageUsed before words like price and cost: the unit price.
Note
8
of size oneadjective
Having a size of exactly one.
Like a box that measures exactly one on every side.
Draw a unit square with sides exactly one inch long.
Each side of a unit square has a length of one.
Note
9
nouncountable
One part of a school course or schoolbook that is about one subject.
Unit 3 is all about fractions.
We have a short test at the end of each unit.
Similarmodule, section, chapter
Note

Less common meanings

10
electricitynounUKcountable
One kilowatt-hour of electricity, as shown on a power meter.
Like ticks on a meter that count the electricity you use.
Each unit of electricity now costs a few pence more.
The meter showed we had used three hundred units last month.
UsageBills give a price per unit of electricity.
Similarkilowatt-hour
Note
11
alcohol amountnounUKcountable
A standard amount of alcohol used to measure how much someone drinks.
Like counting spoonfuls so you know how much you have had.
The doctor told him to drink fewer units each week.
Half a pint of weak beer counts as about one unit.
UsagePeople count units of alcohol each week.
12
display standnouncountable
A stand with shelves, pegs, or hooks used to show items for sale in a store.
Like a tall shelf rack you see in a store.
The shop displayed the new toys on a unit near the door.
Staff filled the units with candy by the checkout counter.
UsageUsually display unit or shelving unit.
Similarstand, rack, fixture
Note
13
big personnounslangAustraliaUKcountable
A very big, strong-looking person.
Like a person as big and wide as a door.
Their new player is an absolute unit on the field.
He's grown into a real unit since last year.
UsageOften said as an absolute unit, usually in a joking, friendly way.
Similarhulk, beast, giant
Note
14
nouncountable
The number one, thought of as the single amount you count with. Also the 'ones' place in a number.
Like one single block that stands for the number one.
A single unit added to nine makes ten.
He counted up in units until he reached one hundred.
Similarone
15
blood amountnouncountable
About half a liter of blood, the amount given in one donation.
Like one full bottle that doctors give to a patient.
The patient needed two units of blood after the accident.
Each unit of donated blood can help save a life.
Note
16
medicine dosenounabbreviationellipsis
Short for international unit. Used to measure doses of vitamins, hormones, and some medicines.
The nurse gave him ten units of insulin before dinner.
One unit of insulin lowers my blood sugar a little.
UsageSay a number, then units of: ten units of insulin.
Note
17
soldiernouncolloquialcountable
A single member of a military group.
Like one player on a sports team.
Each unit in the squad carried his own radio and rations.
My archer was the last unit still standing after the battle.
Similarsoldier
Note
18
penisnounslangvulgarUScountable
A man's penis, especially a big one.
He bragged to his buddies about his unit after a few beers.
His towel slipped and gave everyone a glimpse of his unit.
Similarmember, manhood
Note
19
noun
A body of rock or ice that can be mapped because it has its own clear features.
20
noun
In math, the special element that leaves another unchanged when the two are combined.
21
noun
In math, an element that has an inverse, so another element can reverse it.
22
noun
A math map from each object to where it ends up after one step out and a matching step back.
23
noun
An old English gold coin from the time of King James I, worth twenty shillings.

Practice

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Origin

This word used to be "unite," which came from an earlier word "unity."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

Unit was formerly unite, which developed from unity. en.wiktionary.org