American Federation of Labor

American

noun

a federation of trade unions organized in 1886: united with the Congress of Industrial Organizations 1955. A.F.L., AFL, A.F. of L.

American Federation of Labor British

noun

the first permanent national labour movement in America, founded in 1886. It amalgamated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations in 1955 See also AFL-CIO

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

American Federation of Labor

In December 1886, Samuel Gompers founded the American Federation of Labor, organizing only skilled workers and focusing on “pure and simple” unionism that rejected state intervention.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

It then had a brief tenure as clubhouse for the Safeway Employees’ Assn. before it became the headquarters of the American Federation of Labor Teamsters Joint Council 42.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2024

Samuel Gompers, the first president of the American Federation of Labor and an advocate of making Labor Day a national celebration, lifted up freedom in a commentary on the holiday in 1910.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 5, 2021

Is the American Federation of Labor a craft organization?

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2021

There was the American Federation of Labor, to which Mabel gave her allegiance.

From Comrade Yetta by Albert Edwards

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023