unanimity
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
Complete agreement by all people involved.
A state or situation characterized by an absence of dissent or opposition, often referring to formal decisions (like votes) or general opinion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a collectivity (e.g., committee, jury, council) reaching a decision with no one dissenting. Not typically used for simple agreement between two individuals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both variants use the word identically in formal contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with formal, institutional, or legal decision-making processes.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British news and parliamentary reporting due to historical traditions of consensus in certain institutions, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
unanimity on/over/about [an issue]unanimity among [a group]unanimity in [decision/voting]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “with one voice (related concept)”
- “a rare moment of unanimity”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The board reached unanimity on the merger proposal after lengthy discussions.'
Academic
'The study's findings were accepted with near unanimity by the scientific community.'
Everyday
'For once, there was complete unanimity in our family about where to go on holiday.'
Technical
'The jury's verdict must be one of unanimity for a criminal conviction in this jurisdiction.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The members must unanimously agree.
- The resolution was unanimously adopted.
American English
- The panel voted unanimously to proceed.
- The measure passed unanimously.
adverb
British English
- The proposal was unanimously approved by the council.
- The Lords voted unanimously against the amendment.
American English
- The Senate unanimously confirmed the nominee.
- The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
adjective
British English
- It was a unanimous decision by the steering committee.
- They gave their unanimous approval.
American English
- The Supreme Court ruling was unanimous.
- We have unanimous consent to move forward.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The team showed unanimity in choosing their new captain.
- It's rare to find unanimity on such a difficult topic.
- Despite previous disagreements, the committee achieved unanimity on the final draft.
- A verdict in a criminal case requires the unanimity of the jury.
- The apparent unanimity among the delegates masked a series of complex backroom negotiations.
- The declaration was adopted by acclamation, reflecting the virtual unanimity of the assembly on the issue.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'UNANIMITY' as 'UNI' (one) + 'ANIMA' (mind, spirit) -> everyone of one mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGREEMENT IS UNITY / BEING OF ONE BODY (e.g., 'The committee spoke with one voice.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'единодушие' (which is closer) and 'единогласие' (which is more procedural). 'Unanimity' often implies the formal result of a vote, not just a shared feeling.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for informal agreement between two friends (overuse). Incorrect: 'We had unanimity to see the film.' Correct: 'We were in agreement...' or 'We both wanted...'
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the use of 'unanimity' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but 'unanimity' is stronger and more absolute, implying no dissent whatsoever. 'Consensus' can allow for some minor reservations or abstentions.
Yes, because it is an uncountable noun. Correct: 'There was unanimity.' Incorrect: 'There were unanimities.'
Using it in overly casual contexts where 'agreement' or 'consensus' would be more natural. It is a formal word for complete, often official, agreement.
Yes. 'Unanimous' is the adjective form, meaning 'fully in agreement'. Both come from Latin 'unus' (one) + 'animus' (mind).