unitary

/ˈjuːnətri/ (bre, ipa) · [jˈunɪtˌɛri] /ˈjuːnəteri/ (ame, ipa) · [jˈunɪtˌɛri] /ˈyü-nə-ˌter-ē How to pronounce unitary (audio)/ (ame, mw)

unitary — adjective

  • unitarypositive
  • more unitarycomparative
  • most unitarysuperlative

1. describing a country, state, or organization whose main decisions are made by on

1.形容詞C2
釋義

describing a country, state, or organization whose main decisions are made by one national center rather than by separate regional bodies

例句

Karim backed a unitary constitution for the island after the referendum.

collocation: a unitary constitution

The new law put local hospitals under a unitary health authority.

pattern: under a unitary authority

同義詞
  • centralized

    focuses on power collected at the top; unitary is more about the state's overall structure

  • single-tier

    used especially for administrative arrangements with one main governing layer

反義詞
  • federal

    describes a system where constitutional power is divided between central and regional governments

  • devolved

    emphasizes authority formally passed down to regional bodies

文法句型

a unitary state

a unitary system

under unitary control

用法筆記

Usually modifies nouns such as state, system, authority, or government. It is often contrasted with federal when power is shared more strongly with regions.

常見錯誤

❌Canada is a unitary state with strong provincial powers.
✅Canada is a federal state with strong provincial powers.
💡A unitary system keeps main authority at the center, while a federal one shares it constitutionally with regions.

2. existing as one complete whole instead of being split into separate parts or gro

2.形容詞C2
釋義

existing as one complete whole instead of being split into separate parts or groups

例句

The school's new logo gave its three campuses a unitary identity.

collocation: a unitary identity

Liang planned the garden and patio as a unitary space.

同義詞
  • unified

    highlights parts brought together successfully

  • undivided

    stresses that no split or separation exists

  • integrated

    suggests connected parts working together in a coordinated way

反義詞
  • divided

    separated into parts that do not function as one whole

  • fragmented

    broken into disconnected or weakly connected pieces

文法句型

a unitary design

a unitary whole

as a unitary system

用法筆記

Common with abstract nouns such as design, structure, whole, or system. It stresses parts acting together, not merely looking similar.

常見錯誤

❌All the students wore unitary jackets on sports day.
✅All the students wore identical jackets on sports day.
💡Unitary means forming one whole system, not simply all being the same.