Unique
adjective
Definition
1. (adjective) The only one of its kind — nothing else exactly like it exists.
2. (adjective) Very special, unusual, or remarkable — standing out from everything else.
2. (adjective) Very special, unusual, or remarkable — standing out from everything else.
Context Alive
You're shopping for a birthday present for your best friend and nothing in the shops feels right. Then you find a small jewellery store where a woman makes everything by hand. She shows you a necklace with a tiny stone from a local beach set in silver — there's only one, and she'll never make the same one again. It's completely unique. You buy it immediately, knowing your friend will love it because it's something nobody else in the world will have.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 The Only One of Its Kind (Adjective) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about something being one of a kind — literally nothing else exactly like it exists anywhere. Imagine your fingerprint. No other person on the planet has the same pattern — it is completely unique to you. This is describing something that cannot be copied, repeated, or found elsewhere. You might say "every snowflake is unique" to explain that no two snow crystals are identical, or someone could say "the painting is unique — it's the only original" to explain why a piece of art is so valuable. Or think about a handwritten letter from your grandmother — the words she chose, her handwriting, the way she folded the paper. That letter is unique because nobody else could have created exactly the same one. The word suggests absolute one-of-a-kind status — there is no second version.
✏️ In its strictest sense, unique means "the only one" — so purists argue you can't say "very unique" or "quite unique" because something either is the only one or it isn't. However, in everyday English, people say "very unique" all the time to mean "extremely special." Both uses are widely accepted in conversation, but in formal writing, sticking to "truly unique" or "entirely unique" sounds more polished.
2 Very Special or Remarkable (Adjective) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about something standing out because it's unusual, impressive, or different from everything else — even if it's not literally the only one in existence. Imagine visiting a restaurant where the chef combines Japanese and Mexican cooking in a way you've never seen before. The food is creative, surprising, and unlike anything on other menus — it's a unique dining experience. This is describing something that feels special and different enough to be memorable. You might say "she has a unique voice" about a singer whose sound is instantly recognisable and unlike any other, or someone could say "this city has a unique atmosphere" about a place that has its own special character you can't find elsewhere. Or picture a job candidate who speaks five languages, has lived on four continents, and plays professional chess — they bring a unique set of skills that makes them stand out from everyone else. The word suggests the person or thing is exceptional and worth noticing.
✏️ This looser meaning is how most people use unique in daily life. "A unique opportunity," "a unique style," "a unique perspective" — these all mean "special and different" rather than literally "the only one." It's one of the most popular positive adjectives in English — used in marketing, dating profiles, job adverts, and everyday compliments.
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
be unique → to be one of a kind or very special
Every person's DNA is unique — no two people are exactly the same.
a unique + noun → describes something special or one of a kind
The hotel offers a unique experience you won't find anywhere else.
unique to + noun → found only in a specific place, person, or group
This species of bird is unique to the island and doesn't exist anywhere else.
Common Structures
truly / entirely unique → emphasises that something really is one of a kind — formally correct intensifiers
The architecture of the building is truly unique.
what makes it unique → explaining the specific quality that sets something apart
What makes this café unique is that every table has a different theme.
unique in + noun/way → specifying the area or aspect where something stands out
She's unique in the way she combines humour with serious topics.
Collocations
10 collocationsa unique opportunity
a special chance that rarely comes along
a unique experience
something memorable and unlike anything else
a unique perspective
a way of seeing things that is different from the norm
a unique style
a personal look or approach that stands out
unique to
found only in a specific place, culture, or person
truly unique
genuinely one of a kind — a formally correct intensifier
a unique combination
a mix of qualities or things that is unusual and special
a unique position
a situation that gives someone a special advantage or viewpoint
unique challenge
a problem that is unusual and requires a fresh approach
unique identity
a sense of self or character that is distinctly individual
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
Every fingerprint is unique — no two people on Earth have the same one.
No two people in the world share identical fingerprints — each one is completely individual.
2
The restaurant has a unique menu that changes every single day.
The restaurant offers a special menu that is different every day.
3
This plant is unique to Madagascar — you won't find it growing anywhere else.
This plant only grows in Madagascar — it doesn't exist naturally in any other country.
4
She has a unique way of explaining difficult topics that makes them easy to understand.
She has a special talent for breaking down complex subjects so anyone can follow.
5
The trip was a truly unique experience — I'll never forget it.
The journey was genuinely one of a kind — it will stay with me forever.
6
What makes this company unique is its focus on employee wellbeing.
The thing that sets this company apart is how much it cares about its workers' health.
7
Each handmade piece is unique, so no two customers will ever have the same item.
Every handcrafted product is one of a kind, meaning no buyer will own an identical one.
8
He brings a unique perspective because he's worked in both medicine and business.
He offers a rare viewpoint because of his background in both healthcare and the corporate world.
9
The city has a unique charm that keeps visitors coming back year after year.
The city has a special appeal that draws tourists back again and again.
10
This is a unique opportunity that won't come around twice — take it.
This is a rare chance that you won't get again — don't let it pass.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsone-of-a-kind
informal and emphatic — means literally the only one, used more in spoken English
distinctive
highlights what makes something easily recognisable and different
rare
not necessarily the only one, but very uncommon and hard to find
Antonymscommon
found everywhere and nothing special about it
ordinary
normal and unremarkable — the opposite of standing out
generic
lacking individuality — mass-produced or interchangeable