European Union

American  

[yoor-uh-pee-uhn yoon-yuhn, yur‐] / ˈjʊər əˌpi ən ˈjun jən, ˈjɜr‐ /

noun

1. an association of European nations formed in 1993 for the purpose of achieving political and economic integration. Incorporating the European Community, the European Union's member states are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. In 2016 the United Kingdom voted by referendum to withdraw from membership in the European Union.

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European Union British  

noun

1.  EU.  an organization created in 1993 with the aim of achieving closer economic and political union between member states of the European Community. The current members are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK

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European Union Cultural  

1. A political union, often called the EU, to which the member states of the EEC are evolving. Based on the Maastricht Treaty, it envisions the eventual establishment of common economic, foreign, security, and justice policies. The extent to which this goal will be achieved is still in doubt and occasions deep divisions in some member states, especially Great Britain. The members of the EU are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Several nations, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, are seeking membership.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

European Union

Lagarde wanted to keep the controversial crypto exchange, which pleaded guilty to financial-crime violations in the U.S., out of the European Union, the official told Binance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

And he ruled out bringing Britain back into the European Union if in government, despite his close personal ties to the continent including his French wife who was influential in the recent Bayeux Tapestry exchange.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

He ended up pushing it toward the European Union.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026

The new Plaid MS was also asked about the idea of the UK returning to the European Union.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

In 2016, Turkey made a deal with the European Union to take back Syrian refugees in exchange for Syrians living in Turkey who qualify for asylum in Europe.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell