# unit

/ˈjunət/ (US) · /jˈuːnɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/unit
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a single part of a whole

noun · CEFR A2

a single thing or person that is part of a larger group or set.

For teachers: an individual thing or person regarded as a single complete entity belonging to a larger group.

- The apartment building contains sixty separate living units.
- The manufacturing plant produces three thousand units per day, each undergoing rigorous quality control before being cleared for shipment.

### 2. measurement

noun · CEFR A2

a standard amount used for measuring things like length, weight, or time.

For teachers: a standard quantity or magnitude used as a basis for measuring other quantities of the same kind.

- The metre is a unit of length in the metric system.
- Scientists must ensure they use consistent units of measurement when collaborating on international research projects to avoid calculation errors.

### 3. education

noun · CEFR A2

a section of a course or a book that focuses on one topic.

For teachers: a self-contained section of a curriculum or textbook covering a specific subject area.

- We are studying the history of the industrial revolution in Unit 4.
- The final unit of the biology syllabus focuses exclusively on genetics and evolutionary theory.

### 4. military/hospital group

noun · CEFR B1

a small group of people who work together in the army or a hospital.

For teachers: a subdivision of a larger organization, specifically in military or medical contexts, that performs a specialized function.

- He was assigned to an infantry unit stationed overseas.
- The intensive care unit requires specialized nursing staff who are trained to handle life-threatening emergencies at a moment's notice.

### 5. large person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang · British English

a person who is very big, tall, or strong.

For teachers: a person of exceptionally large or muscular build.

- Look at the size of that rugby player; he is an absolute unit.
- The new bouncer is a total unit, standing well over two metres tall and weighing nearly one hundred and twenty kilograms.

### 6. alcohol/electricity

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a specific amount of alcohol in a drink or electricity used.

For teachers: a fixed quantity of a commodity, such as a kilowatt-hour of energy or a specific volume of pure ethanol.

- A glass of wine usually contains about two units of alcohol.
- The household reduced its energy consumption by ten units per week after installing solar panels on the roof.

### 7. single or per item

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

relating to a single item or having a value of one.

For teachers: denoting a single item or a magnitude of one; often used to describe the price of one item in a set.

- The unit price of the apples is cheaper if you buy the whole bag.
- The mathematician defined a unit vector as one having a magnitude of exactly one in a given direction.

## Examples

- The meter is a unit of length.
- The textbook is divided into ten units, with each section covering a different part of the grammar.
- The hospital's intensive care unit is equipped with advanced monitoring systems to ensure that every patient receives immediate attention during a crisis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.