unanimously

Unanimously is an adverb used to describe an action carried out with the agreement of all members of a group, with no one dissenting. It is commonly attached to verbs that express votes, judgments, or decisions, as in a decision made or a verdict delivered unanimously. The term emphasizes complete consensus rather than majority agreement.

Etymology and form: Unanimously derives from the adjective unanimous, which comes from the Latin unanimitas, formed from unus (one) and animus (mind). The adverbial form is created by adding the suffix -ly. In contrast, unanimous is used to describe the state of agreement, while unanimity refers to the condition or the level of agreement itself.

Usage notes: Unanimously is common in formal and written contexts, such as legal rulings, parliamentary proceedings, court verdicts, and official announcements. It can appear at the sentence end or in the middle, depending on emphasis. It is less frequent in casual speech, where phrases like “everyone agreed” or “all agreed” may be used instead.

Examples: The board approved the proposal unanimously. The jury found the defendant guilty unanimously. The council passed the ordinance unanimously, without a single dissenting vote.

Related terms include unanimous (adjective) and unanimity (noun). Unanimously conveys a sense of complete, unopposed agreement across all involved parties.