The terms "unibody" and "unit-body" are short for "unitized body", "unitary construction", or alternatively (fully) integrated body and frame/chassis. It is defined as: A type of body/frame construction in which the body of the vehicle, its floor plan and chassis form a single structure.

What is a unitized body element?

[′yü·nə‚tīzd ′bäd·ē] (engineering) An automotive body that has the body and frame in one unit; side members are designed on the principle of a bridge truss to gain stiffness, and sheet metal of the body is stressed so that it carries some of the load.

Is a unibody stronger than a frame?

Unibody vehicles have the advantage of being lighter than their body-on-frame counterparts. ... Their lower center of gravity and more rigid frame also make them much less prone to vehicle rollover. Unibody designs also score higher on crash safety test ratings.