existing as the only one or as the sole example;single; solitary in type or characteristics:
a unique copy of an ancient manuscript.
2.
having no like or equal; unparalleled;incomparable:
Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint.
3.
limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, orarea:
a species unique to Australia.
4.
limited to a single outcome or result; withoutalternative possibilities:
Certain types of problems have unique solutions.
5.
not typical; unusual:
She has a very unique smile.
6.
the embodiment of unique characteristics; theonly specimen of a given kind:
The unique is also the improbable.
Origin
Related forms
uniquely, adverb
uniqueness, noun
nonunique, adjective
nonuniquely, adverb
nonuniqueness, noun
Usage note
Many authors of usage guides, editors, teachers, andothers feel strongly that such “absolute” words ascomplete, equal, perfect, and especially unique cannotbe compared because of their “meaning”: a word thatdenotes an absolute condition cannot be described asdenoting more or less than that absolute condition.However, all such words have undergone semanticdevelopment and are used in a number of senses,some of which can be compared by words like more,very, most, absolutely, somewhat, and totally andsome of which cannot.
The earliest meanings of unique when it entered Englisharound the beginning of the 17th century were “single,sole” and “having no equal.” By the mid-19th centuryunique had developed a wider meaning, “not typical,unusual,” and it is in this wider sense that it iscompared: The foliage on the late-blooming plants ismore unique than that on the earlier varieties.Thecomparison of so-called absolutes in senses that arenot absolute is standard in all varieties of speech andwriting.
See also a1, complete, perfect.
The earliest meanings of unique when it entered Englisharound the beginning of the 17th century were “single,sole” and “having no equal.” By the mid-19th centuryunique had developed a wider meaning, “not typical,unusual,” and it is in this wider sense that it iscompared: The foliage on the late-blooming plants ismore unique than that on the earlier varieties.Thecomparison of so-called absolutes in senses that arenot absolute is standard in all varieties of speech andwriting.
See also a1, complete, perfect.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014.
Cite This Source
Examples from the web for unique
- His work is the masterpiece of its kind, unique and incomparable.
- It is well organized and the gardens are unique as well as beautiful.
- Astronomers have discovered a unique set of triplets: an asteroid with two moons orbiting it.
British Dictionary definitions for unique
unique
/juːˈniːk/
adjective
1.
being the only one of a particular type; single; sole
2.
without equal or like; unparalleled
3.
(informal) very remarkable or unusual
4.
(maths)
- leading to only one result: the sum of two integers is unique
- having precisely one value: the unique positive square root of 4 is 2
Derived Forms
uniquely, adverb
uniqueness, noun
uniqueness, noun
Usage note
Unique is normally taken to describe an absolute state, i.e. one that cannot be qualified. Thus something is either unique or not unique; it cannot be rather uniqueor very unique. However, unique is sometimes used informally to mean very remarkable or unusual and this makes it possible to use comparatives or intensifiers with it, although many people object to this use
Word Origin
C17: via French from Latin ūnicus unparalleled, fromūnus one
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
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© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cite This Source
Word Origin and History for unique
adj.
c.1600, "single, solitary," from French unique, from Latin unicus "single, sole," from unus "one" (see one). Meaning "forming the only one of its kind" is attested from 1610s; erroneous sense of "remarkable, uncommon" is attested from mid-19c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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unique in Technology
language
A portable job control language.
["The UNIQUE Command Language - Portable Job Control", I.A. Newman, Proc DATAFAIR 73, 1973, pp. 353-357].
(1994-11-22)
