Synonyms

unify

American

[yoo-nuh-fahy] / ˈju nəˌfaɪ /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become a single unit; unite.

to unify conflicting theories;
to unify a country.

Synonyms:

coalesce, fuse, merge, combine

unify British

/ ˈjuːnɪˌfaɪ /

verb

to make or become one; unite

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of unify

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Late Latin ūnificāre, equivalent to Latin ūni- uni- + -ficāre -fy

Explanation

When you bring together unlike elements, you unify them. Political movements can unify people by inspiring them to work towards a shared goal. Likewise, a shared love of a team or band can unify people who otherwise don't have much in common. The verb unify comes from the Latin prefix uni-, “one,” and the root facere, “to make.” When you unify things, you make them one. Often squabbling people just need someone to point out their similarities in order to unify them. If your classmates are sabotaging each other to try to win the “best-decorated locker” award, you might be able to unify their efforts suggesting a “most awesome class” award instead.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing unify

Power Prefix: uni-

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The Catcher in the Rye

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Vocabulary from Donald Trump's Victory Speech, November 9, 2016

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Berkshire Hathaway, which already owns Clayton Homes, said that “over time” it plans to unify its “site-built homebuilding operations.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

Last month, the legislative bodies of the rival authorities signed a US-mediated agreement to unify public spending across the divided country for the first time in over a decade.

From Barron's • May 26, 2026

The winner of Saturday night is only going to be in big fights and we'll see whether Oleksandr Usyk will want to unify the division or not.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

For decades, physicists have been trying to unify quantum mechanics with gravity.

From Science Daily • May 3, 2026

But the net result has been to bind the Earth together, to decrease provincialism, to unify the human species and to advance powerfully our knowledge of our planet and ourselves.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023