Plain English Meaning
A one-piece shell where the skin and frame are built as one structure, and the shell itself holds everything together.
Full Definition
A structural design in which the outer skin and the underlying frame are combined into a single load-bearing shell, so the body itself carries the structural loads rather than relying on a separate internal frame.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of monocoque aircraft construction and fuselage design.
Derivation
From 'uni-' (Latin for 'one') and 'body.' Literally 'one body' — the frame and skin are not two separate things bolted together, but one continuous structure.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding that the skin itself is structural explains why even minor dents, cracks, or skin damage on a unibody or monocoque aircraft must be taken seriously — the skin is not just a cover, it is part of what holds the aircraft together.