unanimously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unanimously" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a decision or opinion that is agreed upon by all members of a group without any dissent. Example: "The board voted unanimously to approve the new policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was "rightly resisted by the judge, and unanimously condemned by the judges", Wilson said.

The Guardian

Republicans from more competitive districts, with a Cook PVI of R+2 or more Democratic, voted almost unanimously for the Senate compromise.

The Guardian

But the Strasbourg court unanimously dismissed his claim as inadmissible, describing it as "manifestly ill-founded".

The Guardian

He retired a four-star general – the highest nominal rank in the US army – and was unanimously confirmed as CIA director in October 2011.

The Guardian

The group decided unanimously that this was non-consensual and inappropriate.

The Guardian

"The comments by Mark Baker in the 16th over may relate to the idiots on channel 9 on Australian TV, who unanimously were complaining that the decision was incorrectm," writes Harry Randle.

The Guardian - Sport

"Consequently, we unanimously believe that our loyalty to the Belgiorno-Nettis family – and the hundreds of thousands of people who benefit from the Biennale – must override claims over which there is ambiguity".

The Guardian - Arts

On Thursday the high court unanimously decided legislation passed by the federal parliament in 2012 – intended to provide the commonwealth with the authority to make funding agreements and payments after a previous successful legal challenge – was "invalid in its operation with respect to a funding agreement between the commonwealth and Scripture Union Queensland".

The Guardian

The law, approved unanimously by parliament on Monday, is based on a United Nations protocol against the smuggling of migrants and allows judges and police to take action.

The Guardian

The tribunal ruled unanimously that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the players were administered a banned peptide by the club's sports scientist Stephen Dank.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was unanimously approved, which I was excited about".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unanimously" to clearly indicate that a decision or opinion was agreed upon by everyone involved, leaving no room for doubt or dissent. For instance, "The committee voted unanimously to approve the proposal."

Common error

Avoid using "unanimously" when there was a general agreement or consensus but not a complete absence of dissent. A consensus implies widespread agreement, but "unanimously" requires absolute agreement from all parties involved.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "unanimously" functions primarily to modify verbs, indicating that an action or decision was made with complete agreement by all parties involved. Ludwig shows it often describes voting outcomes or official approvals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "unanimously" indicates complete agreement. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, business, and formal contexts. When using "unanimously", ensure there is truly no dissent. If there is only near agreement, alternatives such as "overwhelmingly" or "with near unanimity" are more appropriate. Remember that "unanimously" highlights total agreement, strengthening the impact of the statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

By unanimous agreement

More formal and emphasizes the act of agreeing.

In complete agreement

Emphasizes the totality of the agreement.

With complete consensus

Highlights the complete and comprehensive nature of the consensus.

With one voice

More figurative and emphasizes unity.

Without dissent

Highlights the absence of disagreement.

In full accord

Emphasizes the harmonious agreement.

By common consent

Suggests a collective agreement or permission.

Universally

Broader in scope, implying widespread agreement or applicability.

With no opposition

Focuses on the lack of resistance to a decision.

By a clean sweep

Informal; suggests a complete victory in a vote or decision.

FAQs

How is "unanimously" used in a sentence?

The adverb "unanimously" describes an action done with complete agreement. For example, "The jury decided "unanimously" to acquit the defendant."

What phrases can replace "unanimously"?

Alternatives for "unanimously" include "by unanimous agreement", "with one voice", or "without dissent". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "almost unanimously"?

While "almost unanimously" is sometimes used to indicate very near agreement, it technically contradicts the meaning of "unanimously", which requires complete agreement. It's more accurate to say "with near unanimity" or "overwhelmingly."

What is the difference between "unanimously" and "overwhelmingly"?

"Unanimously" means everyone agrees, with no exceptions. "Overwhelmingly" implies a very large majority, but not necessarily everyone. For example, a vote can be "overwhelmingly" in favor of something even if some people disagree, but it can only be "unanimous" if everyone agrees.