unionism

noun

union·​ism ˈyün-yə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce unionism (audio)
: the principle or policy of forming or adhering to a union: such as
a
capitalized : adherence to the policy of a firm federal union between the states of the United States especially during the Civil War period
b
: the principles, theory, advocacy, or system of trade unions

Examples of unionism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Home Front: Black Women Unionists in the Confederacy The resistance and unionism of enslaved and freed Black women in the midst of the Confederacy is an epic story of sacrifice for nation and citizenship. JSTOR Daily, 24 June 2024 And European social democracy was built on a foundation of trade unionism and working-class solidarity. Francis Fukuyama, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018 Advertisement This win came under the leadership of Shawn Fain, who has rejected the corrupt business unionism of his predecessors and embraced the militant spirit of the Congress of Industrial Organizations of the mid-20th century. Jim Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023 In this period, Jacobs, who grew up in South Africa and came of age in the 1980s, told me, unionism evolved beyond the narrow concerns of the shop floor, into a labor movement that could make connections between apartheid and the conditions of workers. Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 29 Oct. 2021 See all Example Sentences for unionism 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unionism.' 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

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unionism was in 1831

Dictionary Entries Near unionism

Cite this Entry

“Unionism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unionism. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unionism

noun
union·​ism ˈyün-yə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce unionism (audio)
1
: the principle or policy of forming or keeping a union
2
capitalized : support of a strong federal union before or during the American Civil War
3
: a theory or policy that supports labor unions
unionist
-yə-nəst
noun often capitalized

More from Merriam-Webster on unionism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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