collective bargaining

noun

: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, hours, and working conditions

Examples of collective bargaining in a Sentence

The next round of collective bargaining is scheduled for September.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In weighing the kind of long-term commitment Tucker will be seeking, Hoyer acknowledged the Cubs have operated cautiously while approaching the expiration of baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2026 season. Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025 Team Sales The economics of owning an NBA team have evolved significantly over the past 15 years, thanks to multiple rounds of more owner-friendly collective bargaining agreements and revenue growth via media, sponsorships and ticketing. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025 Los Angeles' spending habits may have an impact with the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association set for this offseason. Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 Even so, the publication reported that 12% of the factories assessed had at least one freedom of association or collective bargaining violation (44 out of 381 factories), and documented 17 cases where workers were prevented from forming or joining a union freely. Sourcing Journal, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for collective bargaining

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collective bargaining was in 1891

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Collective bargaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collective%20bargaining. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

collective bargaining

noun
: discussion between an employer and union representatives over wages, hours, and working conditions

Legal Definition

collective bargaining

noun
: negotiation between an employer and a labor union usually on wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions see also bargaining agent at agent, bargaining unit, Labor Management Relations Act

More from Merriam-Webster on collective bargaining

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!