Meaning & use
unit
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Meanings
nouncountable
A single whole thing that can be counted or treated separately, especially as one part of a larger whole.
Grammar: Has a plural: one unit, two units.
Patterns
- a unit of something
- part of a unit
The apartment building has forty units, and each one has its own entrance.
The course is divided into six units, each ending with a short test.
Each storage unit in the warehouse is rented by the month.
nouncountabletechnical
A fixed amount used as a standard for measuring something, such as a meter, a gram or an hour.
Grammar: Usually followed by of or preceded by the thing measured: a unit of length.
Patterns
- a unit of something
- units of measurement
The gram is a unit of mass in the metric system.
Scientists around the world agree on the same units so that results can be compared.
In this recipe, a cup is the only unit you need.
nouncountable
A group of people who work together, or a section of an organization with a particular job.
Grammar: Can take a singular or plural verb in British English when it means a group of people.
Patterns
- a unit of something
- a unit within something
She works in the hospital's burns unit.
A small police unit was sent to guard the bridge.
The family is the basic social unit in many cultures.
nouncountable
A piece of equipment, often one of several matching pieces, that does a particular job or fits with others.
Grammar: Often follows a noun that names the job: a heating unit.
Patterns
- a [type] unit
The air conditioning unit stopped working in the middle of July.
We bought a wall unit to hold the television and our books.
Replace the whole filter unit rather than cleaning it.
Word forms
| plural | units |
|---|
Common combinations
- unit of measurement
- The kilometer is a unit of measurement for distance.
- intensive care unit
- He spent two nights in the intensive care unit after the operation.
- family unit
- Moving abroad brought the family unit closer together.
- storage unit
- They keep their old furniture in a storage unit across town.
- military unit
- His military unit was stationed near the border.
Synonyms and how they differ
- component
- Component stresses that something is one piece of a larger machine or system, while unit can also be a complete thing on its own.
- section
- Section suggests a piece cut or marked off from a whole, whereas unit suggests something that works as a single item.
- module
- Module is more technical and describes a self-contained piece that plugs into a system, while unit is the broader everyday word.
- squad
- Squad refers only to a small group of people, whereas unit can be a group, a piece of equipment or a measurement.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: unit or unit?
unit vs unit
Learners sometimes write it as 'unite', which is a verb meaning to join together. Unit is the noun for a single part or measure.
Practice
The gram is a ____ of mass used in the metric system.
Choose one answer.
A gram is a standard amount used for measuring, so unit is the right word. Section and squad do not name measurements, and module is a technical piece of a system.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.