ユニークの定義と意味 | Dictionary.com

UNIQUE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms unique American [yoo- neek ] / yuˈnik / adjective existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics. a unique copy of an ancient manuscript. having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable. Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint. limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area. a species unique to Australia. limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities. Certain types of problems have unique solutions. not typical; unusual. She has a very unique smile. noun the embodiment of unique characteristics; the only specimen of a given kind. The unique is also the improbable. unique British / juːˈniːk / adjective being the only one of a particular type; single; sole without equal or like; unparalleled informal very remarkable or unusual 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 "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 Usage Many authors of usage guides, editors, teachers, and others feel strongly that such “absolute” words as complete, equal, perfect, and especially unique cannot be compared because of their “meaning”: a word that denotes an absolute condition cannot be described as denoting more or less than that absolute condition. However, all such words have undergone semantic development and are used in a number of senses, some of which can be compared by words like more, very, most, absolutely, somewhat, and totally and some of which cannot. The earliest meanings of unique when it entered English around the beginning of the 17th century were “single, sole” and “having no equal.” By the mid-19th century unique had developed a wider meaning, “not typical, unusual,” and it is in this wider sense that it is compared: The foliage on the late-blooming plants is more unique than that on the earlier varieties. The comparison of so-called absolutes in senses that are not absolute is standard in all varieties of speech and writing. See also a 1 , complete , perfect . 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 unique or 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 Other Word Forms nonunique adjective nonuniquely adverb uniquely adverb uniqueness noun Etymology Origin of unique First recorded in 1595–1605; from French, from Latin ūnicus, equivalent to ūn(us) “one” + -icus -ic Explanation If something is unique , it's the only one around. You might think getting a nose ring would make you unique , until you see five other people on the street with the same piercing. If someone calls you unique you know that you are very special. The reason is that the Latin prefix uni- means "one." (Technically speaking, it isn't possible to be "very unique " — you either are or you're not.) Think of the prefix in unicorn for a creature with one horn and unicycle for a cycle with one wheel. Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Vocabulary lists containing unique Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! Power Prefix: uni- Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! List 5 Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. In other words, Congress acted in a historically unique and exacting way in telling judges how they were supposed to decide redistricting challenges. From Slate • May 5, 2026 Around the turn of the 20th century, this unique approach allowed immigrant Jews to participate in and drive forward the booming New York real-estate market. From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026 That was unique to that region, according to Mertz, because there are variations in the Andes virus based on the geographic distribution of the rodent hosts. From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026 "If there was a new motorway going across the Gwent you could kind of say goodbye to the levels as they are. They are a unique landscape within Wales." From BBC • May 2, 2026 We’d made huge progress over the last few weeks, ever since I’d come up with our unique way of studying, but nothing could have prepared us for this. From "Glitch" by Laura Martin Related Words exceptional extraordinary rare singular special strange uncommon unparalleled unprecedented weird Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.