unionize

verb

union·​ize ˈyün-yə-ˌnīz How to pronounce unionize (audio)
unionized; unionizing

transitive verb

: to organize into a labor union

intransitive verb

: to form or join a labor union
unionizable adjective
unionizable employees

Examples of unionize in a Sentence

Workers are fighting for the right to unionize.
Recent Examples on the Web The Volkswagen plant voted against unionizing twice, first in 2014, then in 2019. Stephan Bisaha, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024 Labor experts say the outcome could have outsize ramifications for the future of unionizing farmworkers in California. Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024 As the Dodgers’ first year with Shohei Ohtani brings a new wave of fans to Vin Scully Avenue, tour guides at the nearly 62-year-old stadium have voted to unionize. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024 Workers at an Amazon air hub in Kentucky celebrated a victory Thursday after federal labor regulators found that Amazon violated labor law by trying to prevent workers there from unionizing. Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Against all odds, 19 workers in that store voted to unionize. Roy Bahat, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 About six months later, the food-service workers had voted to unionize. Billy Witz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Harvard graduate students voted to unionize in 2018, and Harvard undergraduate non-academic student workers voted to unionize in 2023. Dominic Pino, National Review, 5 Mar. 2024 Europe’s union-friendly model In Europe, Volkswagen workers unionize through IG Metall, Europe’s largest industrial union representing 2.2 million workers, and its works council. Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 26 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unionize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of unionize was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near unionize

Cite this Entry

“Unionize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unionize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

unionize

verb
union·​ize ˈyün-yə-ˌnīz How to pronounce unionize (audio)
unionized; unionizing
: to form into a labor union
unionization
ˌyün-yə-nə-ˈzā-shən
noun

Legal Definition

unionize

verb
union·​ize ˈyü-nyə-ˌnīz How to pronounce unionize (audio)
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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unionize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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