dues-paying

American  

[dooz-pey-ing, dyooz-] / ˈduzˌpeɪ ɪŋ, ˈdyuz- /

adjective

1. gaining experience, especially by hard and often unpleasant or uncongenial work.

   He spent his dues-paying years as a cocktail pianist.

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noun

1. the act or process of gaining experience, especially slowly and laboriously.

   She had many years of dues-paying before her abilities were recognized.

Etymology

Origin of dues-paying

First recorded in 1860–70

Example Sentences

That law required unions to demonstrate their dues-paying members amounted to at least 60% of employees.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Huang is a community organizer, minister and dues-paying member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2026

The group claimed it had over 40,000 dues-paying members at the height of its membership during Barack Obama’s presidency.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2025

The group does not release its list of dues-paying members, nor does it publicize information about where or how it conducts trainings.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2023

She energized the organization and helped to increase the membership from twenty-seven thousand to an astonishing two hundred thousand dues-paying members by 1890.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling