unitary
UK: ˈjuːnɪt(ə)ri | US: ˈjuːnɪteri
adj. relating to or characterized by unity or uniformity
adj. (government) centralized under a single authority
adj. (mathematics) having the property of unity
The word "unitary" derives from the Latin unitas (meaning "oneness"), formed from unus ("one"). The suffix -ary (from Latin -arius) converts nouns into adjectives, indicating "relating to." Thus, "unitary" literally means "relating to oneness." Over time, it evolved to describe systems (e.g., governments, mathematical operations) where components function as a single, indivisible whole.
The country adopted a unitary system of government, abolishing regional autonomy.
In physics, a unitary transformation preserves the norm of a vector.
The team emphasized unitary action to achieve their goal.
The constitution defines the state as a unitary republic.
Quantum operators must be unitary to conserve probability.