uniform

Everyday

1. A set of special clothes that everyone in a school, team or job wears, so they look the same or can be recognised, like a school uniform or a police uniform. tree →
2. As an adjective, uniform means the same all over, or all the same: a uniform colour, uniform size. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, many schools in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have uniforms; fewer do in the USA and Canada. Uniforms help us recognise people who can help: police officers, firefighters, nurses, paramedics and lifeguards. In safety lessons: a uniform alone does not prove someone is safe; check with a trusted adult. In science and maths, "uniform" means even or the same throughout: a uniform speed does not change, and a uniform shape has equal parts. Phrases: "school uniform", "in uniform", "wear a uniform", "uniform size".

Examples

• I put on my school uniform every morning. tree →
• The firefighter's uniform is fireproof. tree →
• Police officers wear uniforms so you can recognise them. tree →
• The cubes are of uniform size, so each one has the same mass. tree →
• Our team got new football uniforms. tree →
• Label every piece of your uniform with your name. tree →
• The fence was painted a uniform green. tree →
• Soldiers in uniform marched past. tree →
• At the sound, two large Mastiffs appeared, dressed in Carabineers’ uniforms. tree →

Note

Use "a" not "an": a uniform (it starts with a "you" sound). Countable as clothes: "two uniforms". "Uniform" (adjective) means the same throughout; in maths a uniform rate is a constant rate, so you can multiply (uniform speed 5 m per second for 10 seconds = 50 m). Prefix uni- means one (unicorn, unicycle).