unionize

verb

union·​ize ˈyün-yə-ˌnīz 

unionized; unionizing

transitive verb

: to organize into a labor union

intransitive verb

: to form or join a labor union

unionizable

ˈyün-yə-ˌnī-zə-bəl 

adjective

unionizable employees

Examples of unionize in a Sentence

Workers are fighting for the right to unionize.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1970, she and fellow protesters were arrested and jailed after occupying the offices of the counterculture Grove Press, whose owner, Barney Rosset, was fighting employees’ efforts to unionize. — Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

The results demonstrated strong support for union representation with 95% voter participation and 84% voting in favor of unionizing. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

But even in Germany and Belgium, which offer public financing to candidates, or Finland, where the vast majority of the labor force is unionized, people from working-class jobs make up around 5% or less of the national legislature. — Nicholas Carnes, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026

The faculty opted to unionize last year, with 77 percent voting in May in favor of joining the United Auto Workers. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for unionize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

unionize

verb

union·​ize ˈyün-yə-ˌnīz 

unionized; unionizing

: to form into a labor union

unionization

ˌyün-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən

noun

Legal Definition

unionize

verb

union·​ize ˈyü-nyə-ˌnīz 

unionized; unionizing

transitive verb

: to organize into a labor union

to prevent them from unionizing the employees

also : to establish a labor union in

a unionized shop

intransitive verb

: to form or join a labor union

unionization

ˌyü-nyə-nə-ˈzā-shən 

noun