Definitions for Unless
ʌnˈlɛs, ən-Un·less

Wiktionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. unless(Conjunction)

   Except on a specified condition; if not.

   I'm leaving unless I get a pay rise.

   Etymology: onlesse, from on lesse, from on a less condition (on became un-)

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Unless

   upon any less condition than (the fact or thing stated in the sentence or clause which follows); if not; supposing that not; if it be not; were it not that; except; as, we shall fail unless we are industrious

Freebase(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Unless

   Unless, first published by Fourth Estate, an imprint of Harper Collins in 2002, is the final novel by Canadian writer Carol Shields. Semi-autobiographical, it was the capstone to Shields's writing career: she died shortly after its publication in 2003. The work was widely acclaimed and nominated for the Booker Prize, the Giller Prize, the Governor General's Award, the Orange Prize for Fiction, and received the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In 2011, it was a finalist in the Canada Reads competition, where it was defended by actor Lorne Cardinal. Like many of her works, Unless explores the extraordinary that lies within the ordinary lives of ordinary women. The novel is narrated in first person by 44-year old writer and translator, Reta Winters. The book proceeds as a linear series of reflections by Reta, elliptically coming to the thematic center of the story: the seemingly arbitrary decision of Reta's college-aged daughter Norah to drop out of university and live on the street with a cardboard sign affixed to her chest that reads "Goodness". Although the novel does not in any way proceed like a mystery, the reasons for Norah's departure from the normal world are Reta's primary motivation in writing. In parallel, her relationship with her French mentor drives much of her narration and view of herself.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Unless

   un-les′, conj. at or for less: if not: supposing that not: save, except. [Formerly on les, on lesse, in phrase on lesse that, in less than.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Unless' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #967

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Unless' in Written Corpus Frequency: #680

How to pronounce Unless?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say Unless in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Unless in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Unless in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of Unless in a Sentence

1. Valerie Jarrett:

   We are not their advocates unless there is an alignment of interest.

2. Anuj Somany:

   A person who does not see merely own benefits in life relationships often fails to do the correct calculation of profit and loss also in mathematical tests unless and until practised a lot before.

3. Loretta Mester:

   You want to be very cognizant of the fact that we are already at neutral, unless the economy takes a turn for the worse.

4. Robert Wander:

   I don't know his political leanings. For most clients, it's not something I get into, unless they are also friends of mine. There's no advantage in that.

5. Nancy Pelosi:

   They could help themselves a lot by putting Flint in there, they have problems on this bill unless they have the votes on their side.

Images & Illustrations of Unless

Popularity rank by frequency of use