unless

[uhn-les, uhn-]

conjunction

1. except under the circumstances that.

   I'll be there at nine, unless the train is late.

preposition

1. except; but; save.

   Nothing will come of it, unless disaster.

unless

/ ʌnˈlɛs /

conjunction

1. (subordinating) except under the circumstances that; except on the condition that

   they'll sell it unless he hears otherwise

preposition

1. rare,  except

Word History and Origins

Origin of unless¹

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; on, less

Word History and Origins

Origin of unless¹

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

Example Sentences

Not unless you want to see your 73-year-old aunt run into the garage door.

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Jhabbu Lal says "unless the erring policemen are arrested, we won't get justice".

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The care desert will worsen, unless we build something different now.

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Officials predict in the document that the caseload will grow to more than 100,000 before then, unless there is further action.

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“It used to be that the big-leaguers wouldn’t listen to you unless you were a big-leaguer,” longtime Florida Atlantic baseball coach John McCormack said.

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