unless

[ uhn-les, uh n- ]
/ ʌnˈlɛs, ən- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR unless ON THESAURUS.COM

conjunction

except under the circumstances that: I'll be there at nine, unless the train is late.

preposition

except; but; save: Nothing will come of it, unless disaster.

Origin of unless

1400–50; late ME prepositional phrase on less (also o less(e), earlier upon less) on a lesser footing or condition (than); first used as a preposition and conjunction in the early 16th century; see on, less

Words nearby unless

unlearn, unlearned, unlearnt, unleash, unleavened, unless, unlessoned, unlettered, unlevel, unlicensed, unlicked

Words related to unless

but, except, saving, without, lest, nisi

Example sentences from the Web for unless

British Dictionary definitions for unless

unless
/ (ʌnˈlɛs) /

conjunction

(subordinating) except under the circumstances that; except on the condition that they'll sell it unless he hears otherwise

preposition

rare except

Word Origin for unless

C14: onlesse, from on on + lesse less; compare French à moins que, literally: at less than