unless

[uhn-les, uh n-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unless ON THESAURUS.COM

conjunction

except under the circumstances that: I'll be there at nine, unless the train is late.

preposition

except; but; save: Nothing will come of it, unless disaster.

Origin of unless

1400–50; late ME prepositional phrase on less (also o less(e), earlier upon less) on a lesser footing or condition (than); first used as a preposition and conjunction in the early 16th century; see on, less

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for unless

but, except, saving, without, lest, nisi

Examples from the Web for unless

Contemporary Examples of unless

Unless there is a court decision that changes our law, we are OK.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails
Jackie Kucinich
January 9, 2015
In some ways I never got out of that unless realizing… well, that kind of seals it off.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile
Robert Ward
January 3, 2015
Unless Cuba sends them back, you might consider following the now lifted embargo with your own personal boycott.
Cuba Protects America’s Most Wanted
Michael Daly
December 18, 2014
Unless you were in China on November 11, you might have missed it.
Alibaba’s Dark Side: Censoring Customers
Brendon Hong
November 18, 2014
Unless there is “a clear national security or law enforcement need,” the bias would lean toward disclosure.
How Obama Endangered Us All With Stuxnet
Kim Zetter
November 13, 2014

Historical Examples of unless

"Unless it should be his gracious pleasure to dispense with obedience," replied Artaphernes.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
But unless he did something a hundred lives perhaps might be lost.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Unless you do as I bid you, I will keep you in irons for the rest of the voyage!
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
"That'll be enough for us, unless you are very hungry," said Robert.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
Unless we are fortunate enough to find some, retreat is inevitable.
Explorations in Australia
John Forrest

British Dictionary definitions for unless

unless

conjunction

(subordinating) except under the circumstances that; except on the condition thatthey'll sell it unless he hears otherwise

preposition

rare except

Word Origin for unless

C14: onlesse, from on on + lesse less; compare French à moins que, literally: at less than

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

Word Origin and History for unless

conj.

mid-15c., earlier onlesse, from on lesse (than) "on a less condition (than)," the first syllable originally on, but the negative connotation and the lack of stress changed it to un-.