Unitär

Unitær is a Danish and Norwegian adjective meaning unitary, single, or undivided, and it is used to describe something that exists or operates as one integrated unit. The term is common in discussions of political systems, organizations, and administrative structures where power or function is centralized rather than distributed.

In political science, unitær stat refers to a unitary state—a state where sovereignty rests in a central government rather than in subnational regions. Such systems are typically contrasted with federal or confederal arrangements, where constituent units retain some degree of autonomy. The word can also describe organizational or administrative designs intended to function as a single coherent unit, emphasizing centralized decision-making and uniform policy.

Etymology and usage notes: unitær is cognate with the English unitary and derives from Latin unitarius, typically via French unitaire or through shared Scandinavian linguistic development. In Danish and Norwegian, the term appears in formal or technical contexts, including law, governance, and public administration.

In religious contexts, the Unitarian movement is usually rendered as unitarisk in Danish and Norwegian rather than unitær, which tends to be reserved for secular or technical meanings. Distinctions between unitær and unitarisk help maintain precision across political, administrative, and theological discourse.

See also: centralization, unitary state, federalism, unitarisk.