Crossword Genius

If not half a unit smaller (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

unless

'if not' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'half a unit smaller' is the wordplay.
'half a' suggests halving the letters.
'smaller' becomes 'less' (less great in size).
'unit' with half the letters taken is 'un'.
'un'+'less'='UNLESS'

(Other definitions for unless that I've seen before include "Though" , "bar" , "Conditional on" , "Otherwise than if" , "Except, save" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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