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

Nearly half a million workers unionized in 2025 alone, and the number of workers in unions is at a 16-year high. — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Thousands of nurses across the nine-hospital Endeavor Health system have been in discussions to unionize for months, with National Nurses Organizing Committee and Teamsters Local 743. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026

Any news consolidation could take years, in part, because CBS News is largely unionized while CNN is a non-union shop. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

The performers unanimously voted to unionize in November 2024. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 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