unitary

adjective

uni·​tary ˈyü-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce unitary (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to a unit
b
: based on or characterized by unity or units
2
: having the character of a unit : undivided, whole
unitarily adverb

Examples of unitary in a Sentence

the formation of a unitary state
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His jurisprudence relating to the powers of the Presidency under Article II of the Constitution, which vests the executive power in a single chief executive, represents the purest distillation of the unitary executive theory. Cristian Farias, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025 And some legal scholars say the ruling draws on the unitary executive theory — which, in its most extreme interpretation, gives the president sole authority over the executive branch. NPR, 23 Mar. 2025 However, according to the BBC, the local council no longer exists, having been replaced by the North Northamptonshire unitary council in April 2021. Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 Now, the Supreme Court hasn't weighed in on the extent of this unitary executive theory. Robert Costa, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unitary

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of unitary was circa 1790

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Cite this Entry

“Unitary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unitary. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

unitary

adjective
uni·​tary ˈyü-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce unitary (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to a unit
b
: based on or marked by unity or units
2
: having the character of a unit : whole

Legal Definition

unitary

adjective
uni·​tary ˈyü-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce unitary (audio)
1
: having the character of a single thing that is a constituent of a whole
specifically : of, relating to, or being a business with subsidiaries in other states or nations that has its state income tax figured by including the subsidiaries' income, determining the portion of that income attributable to activities within the state, and taxing that percentage
a unitary business operating throughout the U.S.
imposed a unitary tax on a multinational corporation
2
: marked by unity : not dual or segregated : integrated sense 3
a unitary school district
unitariness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unitary

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