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unitary

American  
[yoo-ni-ter-ee] / ˈyu nɪˌtɛr i /

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 British  
/ -trɪ, ˈjuːnɪtərɪ /

adjective

  1. of a unit or units

  2. based on or characterized by unity

  3. individual; whole

  4. of or relating to a system of government in which all governing authority is held by the central government Compare federal

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unitariness noun

Etymology

Origin of unitary

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

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.

The new all-purpose councils - known as unitary authorities - are due to take effect in 2028 for a county of 1.9 million people.

From BBC

They are standing for a mixture of district, metropolitan, unitary and county councils.

From BBC

The current 15 authorities and two levels of local government are due to be abolished and replaced with between three and five all-purpose unitary councils.

From BBC

The government is expected to announce in March whether Essex will go from two layers of 15 authorities to between three and five all-purpose unitary councils.

From BBC

Twenty-nine councils have had their elections postponed this year so they can focus on local government reorganisation, which will see fewer all purpose unitary authorities replace existing councils.

From BBC

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.