What does unanimous mean?
Unanimous means that everyone in a group agrees on something, without any dissenting opinions or votes. The word is commonly used for decisions, verdicts, votes, support, and agreements, as in “the committee made a unanimous decision” or “the proposal received unanimous approval.” It describes the degree of agreement within a group, not necessarily the quality or popularity of the decision. In everyday use, unanimous can suggest that a result was reached without opposition, although a group may still have debated the matter before reaching consensus. The term is common in formal settings such as courts, legislatures, committees, businesses, and public organizations, but it is also widely understood in general conversation. Its distinctive value lies in conveying absolute agreement: not a narrow majority, but agreement by every relevant participant.
adjectiveAgreed on by everyone in a group, with no dissenting votes or opinions. It can describe a decision, agreement, support, or other collective judgment.
- Agreed on by every member of a group, with no dissent or opposing vote.
"The committee reached a unanimous decision to approve the proposal."
"The jury returned a unanimous verdict."
"After several hours of discussion, the members offered unanimous support for the proposal."
Unanimous comes from the Latin unanimis, meaning “of one mind”—a remarkably direct description of a group moving as a single voice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unanimous come from?
Unanimous was borrowed from Latin unanimis, meaning “of one mind” or “agreed by all,” formed from the prefix un- and animus, “mind” or “spirit.” The Latin root also underlies related English forms such as unanimity and unanimously. Its development reflects a long-standing way of describing collective agreement: a group acts with one mind, rather than being divided into opposing factions.
Related word forms
How unanimous is actually used
Unanimous is formal and neutral. It is especially common in political, legal, organizational, and institutional contexts, and it emphasizes the absence of disagreement rather than the strength of the opinion itself.
Easily confused with unanimous
Unanimous is an adjective describing something agreed on by everyone, while unanimity is the noun meaning complete agreement among a group.