closed shop

American  

noun

1. a factory, office, or other business establishment in which union membership is a condition of being hired as well as of continued employment.

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closed shop British  

noun

1. (formerly) an industrial establishment in which there exists a contract between a trade union and the employer permitting the employment of the union's members only Compare open shop union shop

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closed shop Cultural  

1. Technically, a business in which employees must join a labor union before being hired. This practice is now illegal. The term is used synonymously with union shop.

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Etymology

Origin of closed shop

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Compare meaning

How does closed-shop compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• open shop vs. closed shop

Example Sentences

Hundreds of hedge funds closed shop, and the number of fund liquidations started exceeding the number of new launches.

From The Wall Street Journal

She thinks derelict buildings and closed shops should be repurposed into small data centres instead.

From BBC

It opened bigger stores in luxe shopping districts and closed shops in less attractive locations.

From The Wall Street Journal

You may think this signals a closed shop, but remember who went on to win the Premier League that season...

From BBC

In Newport, some of the closed shops still have the shutters down, but others appear to be back in business.

From BBC