European Union

American  

[yoor-uh-pee-uhn yoon-yuhn, yur‐] / ˈyʊər əˌpi ən ˈyun yən, ˈyɜr‐ /

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

The American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, which represents U.S. companies that operate in Europe, said a return to escalating trans-Atlantic trade tensions would harm companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Verne, founded in 2019, said discussions were under way in 11 cities across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

One is that it can’t be sold in European Union countries, because the EU has found that its exterior design can imperil pedestrians.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Last month, the Netherlands approved the use of supervised FSD in the country, setting the stage for Tesla to push for widespread approval in the European Union.

From MarketWatch • May 4, 2026

In Europe alone, the fall of the wall opened the way for the formation of the European Union and its expansion from fifteen to twenty-five countries.

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman