<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000746838</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNISYS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UIS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001343269</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hook Lisa</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NEUSTAR, INC. - C/O DENIS CURRAN</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>46000 CENTER OAK PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STERLING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6110</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25384</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units granted under the Unisys Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Compensation Plan. The restricted stock units vested 100% on the date of grant, February 26, 2021, into shares of Unisys Corporation common stock.  The restricted stock units have been deferred under the terms of the 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of Unisys Corporation and will be distributed lump sum in shares of Unisys Corporation common stock upon the termination of service of the director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John M. Armbruster, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
