uniform

American  

[yoo-nuh-fawrm] / ˈyu nəˌfɔrm /

adjective

1. identical or consistent, as from example to example, place to place, or moment to moment: a uniform building code.

   uniform spelling;

   a uniform building code.

2. without variations in detail: a uniform surface.

   uniform output;

   a uniform surface.

3. constant; unvarying; undeviating: uniform velocity.

   uniform kindness;

   uniform velocity.

4. constituting part of a uniform.

   to be issued uniform shoes.

5. Mathematics. occurring in a manner independent of some variable, parameter, function, etc..

   a uniform bound.

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noun

1. an identifying outfit or style of dress worn by the members of a given profession, organization, or rank.

2. Informal. a uniformed police officer, as opposed to a detective or other member of a police force who does not wear a uniform while on duty.

   The chief wants all available uniforms at the site of the explosion ASAP.

3. a word used in communications to represent the letter U.

verb (used with object)

1. to make uniform or standard.

2. to clothe in or furnish with a uniform.

uniform ¹ British  

/ ˈjuːnɪˌfɔːm /

noun

1. a prescribed identifying set of clothes for the members of an organization, such as soldiers or schoolchildren

2. a single set of such clothes

3. a characteristic feature or fashion of some class or group

4. informal a police officer who wears a uniform

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adjective

1. unchanging in form, quality, quantity, etc; regular

   a uniform surface

2. identical; alike or like

   a line of uniform toys

verb

1. to fit out (a body of soldiers, etc) with uniforms

2. to make uniform

Uniform ² British  

/ ˈjuːnɪˌfɔːm /

noun

1. communications a code word for the letter u

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Other Word Forms

• nonuniform adjective
• self-uniform noun
• uniformly adverb
• uniformness noun

Etymology

Origin of uniform

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin ūnifōrmis (adjective), equivalent to ūni- combining form meaning “one” + -fōrmis “form, shape”; uni-, -form

Explanation

Uniform means the same. If your school has a uniform it means all the kids wear the same clothes. If you are told to make your handwriting uniform, they want your letters to be the same shape and size over and over. When you break uniform down, you'll see uni for one, and form, for shape––things that are uniform have the shape. If you are building a Zombie Army, it's more fun to create zombies who are not uniform. Some can wear shredded shrouds, others can wear whatever they find. Some walk just fine, others leave body parts wherever they go.

Example Sentences

“He’s the personification of the U.S. military, the human representative of everyone who wears the uniform and their families.”

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

To resolve this discrepancy, the researchers proposed that charge separation is not uniform.

From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026

The American in uniform must ask himself: Am I doing the right thing?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Back in Mzuzu, Martha helps Rachael get dressed in her blue-and-white chequered school uniform.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Now keys rattled outside my own: a very young guard in a very new uniform bounded in.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• attire
• costume
• dress
• garb
• gown
• khaki
• regalia
• robe
• suit