Word
unanimous
Phoneticsunan·i·mous
US/juˈnænəməs/
UK/juːnˈænɪməs/
Definition
adj. when a group of people all agree on a decision or a vote.
adj. formed by or indicating the complete agreement of all parties involved. As a non-gradable adjective, it typically does not take comparative modifiers like 'more' or 'very'.
Examples
“The committee reached a unanimous decision to hire her.”
“After hours of debate, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.”
“The proposal received unanimous support from the board of directors, reflecting a rare moment of total alignment regarding the company's long-term strategic direction.”
Examples
simple
“The committee reached a unanimous decision to hire her.”
contextual
“After hours of debate, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.”
complex
“The proposal received unanimous support from the board of directors, reflecting a rare moment of total alignment regarding the company's long-term strategic direction.”
Usage
Usually follows the verb 'be' or 'remain', or precedes nouns like 'decision', 'vote', or 'support'.
Teaching tip
Learners often try to use this in casual settings, but it is best reserved for formal contexts like law, business, or official meetings.
Pitfall
The vote was very unanimous.
The vote was unanimous.
Unanimous means 'everyone agreed,' so you cannot be 'very' unanimous. It is a non-gradable adjective.
Real-World Examples
“Joining the pact could prove tricky for the UK and would require unanimous approval from all EU states.” “In a unanimous decision published Friday, the three judges of the appeal court have stated clearly that there is no Charter right to have bike lanes in Toronto .” Etymology
From Latin ūnanimus (“of one mind”), from ūnus (“one”) + animus (“mind”). Displaced native Old English ānmōd (literally “one-minded”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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