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

If that election is successful, more than 1,000 nurses at that hospital would be unionized. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

But in February, the firefighters, many of whom worked second jobs to make ends meet, unionized. — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

As part of the organizing push, production assistants have voted to unionize on The Pitt, Abbott Elementary, All American, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, The Four Seasons, Cupertino and Dexter’s Resurrection. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026

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

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