American Federation of Labor

American  

noun

1. 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

1. 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

---

Example Sentences

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

With about 12 million members, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, as it is formally known, encompasses the bulk of the nation’s unions in both the public and private sectors.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2021

The American Federation of Labor, a loose affiliation of different unions, grew in the wake of these universal organizations, although negative publicity impeded their work as well.

From Textbooks • Dec. 30, 2014

American Federation of Labor, favors woman’s suffrage, 10. forms organizations of workingwomen, 33.

From The Modern Woman's Rights Movement A Historical Survey by Schirmacher, Kaethe