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uniform
/ˈjuːnɪfɔːrm/
identical in form or manner
All students wear the same uniform to school.
The clothing is standardized for everyone in the group.
formal
Clothing of the same style, color, and design worn by members of a group or organization to identify them as a collective.
The school's uniform consists of a white shirt and dark blue pants.
The standardized clothing helps create a sense of unity among students.
Police officers in uniform are patrolling the area.
The distinctive clothing identifies their official role.
Uniforms are often used in schools, workplaces, sports teams, and military organizations to promote discipline, equality, and group identity.
formal
Not varying; remaining the same in all cases and at all times.
The temperature remained uniform throughout the experiment.
The temperature stayed consistent without variation.
The software ensures uniform performance across all devices.
The performance quality is identical regardless of the device used.
Used in technical and scientific contexts to describe consistency or standardization.
Collocations
school uniformstandardized clothing worn by studentsmilitary uniformdistinctive clothing worn by soldierswork uniformstandardized clothing worn by employeesin uniformwearing the official clothing of a group or organization
Pro Tip
Distinguishing noun vs. adjective uses
Pay attention to context: if it describes clothing, it's a noun (e.g., 'school uniform'). If it describes consistency, it's an adjective (e.g., 'uniform temperature').
Gold Rule
Pluralization of uniform (noun)
The plural form is 'uniforms' when referring to multiple sets of clothing (e.g., 'The students' uniforms are clean.').
Word Origin
From Latin 'uniformis' (one form), combining 'unus' (one) + 'forma' (form). First recorded in English in the early 17th century.
Usage Notes
As a noun, 'uniform' typically refers to clothing. As an adjective, it describes something that is unchanging or consistent. The pronunciation shifts slightly between noun (emphasis on the first syllable) and adjective (emphasis on the second syllable).
Word Breakdown
uni-
one
prefix-form
shape or form
rootEnglish Dictionary