unitary

[ yoo-ni-ter-ee ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a unit or units.
2. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or aiming toward unity:

   the unitary principles of nationalism.

3. of the nature of a unit; having the indivisible character of a unit; whole.
4. serving as a unit, as of measurement or estimation.
5. of or relating to the use of units:

   A unitary method was applied.

6. Government. of or relating to a system of government in which the executive, legislative, and judicial powers of each state in a body of states are vested in a central authority.

unitary

/ -trɪ; ˈjuːnɪtərɪ /

adjective

1. of a unit or units
2. based on or characterized by unity
3. individual; whole
4. See federal
   of or relating to a system of government in which all governing authority is held by the central government Compare federal

Other Words From

• uni·tari·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unitary¹

First recorded in 1810–20; unit, unit(y) + -ary

Example Sentences

Going back to the Reagan administration, conservative constitutional thinking has advocated for a powerful and unitary executive.

From Fortune

The image of Israel as a unitary, inflexibly anti-peace body is not borne out by the legislative facts.

From The Daily Beast

It decides to pounce on a prey, to hide in the grass, to take off and fly, so the organism does behave as a very unitary entity.

From The Daily Beast

This will also upset people supporting the creation of a single, unitary state—Jewish, Palestinian, or otherwise.

From The Daily Beast

In his U.N. speech, he spoke about “the medieval forces of radical Islam” as a unitary actor.

From The Daily Beast

In particular, there appears to be little hope for any unitary concept of subjective well-being.

From The Daily Beast

So Essence also does not remain unitary, because its potentiality extends to all it has become.

From Project Gutenberg

In that it is something unitary, without being unity itself; for what is a "certain one" is already manifold.

From Project Gutenberg

This means to signify that unity precedes the unitary thing by nature, just as heat precedes the hot object.

From Project Gutenberg

The theory is based upon a principle alleged to be Aristotle's that from a unitary cause nothing but a unitary effect can follow.

From Project Gutenberg

Unity precedes the unitary object as heat comes before the hot object.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• individual
• lone
• original
• particular
• personal
• private
• separate
• simple
• sole
• special
• specific