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

Oregon State University, fighting an effort by members of its women’s basketball team to unionize through the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB), is trying to argue that athletics is much less influential at OSU than at other schools. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The cuts account for about 30% of the company’s workers unionized with The NewsGuild-CWA, a North American labor union of journalists and communications workers. — Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

The union has increasingly turned its attention to clinics, some of which are already unionized. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Peterson said the nurses decided to unionize because of problems including short staffing and supply shortages. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 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