general strike

noun

1. a mass strike in all or many trades and industries in a section or in all parts of a country.

general strike

noun

1. a strike by all or most of the workers of a country, province, city, etc, esp ( caps. ) such a strike that took place in Britain in 1926

general strike

1. A strike of all of the workers in a nation or area. General strikes are usually brief and designed to show the unity of the working class .

Word History and Origins

Origin of general strike¹

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10

Example Sentences

Among those leading a general strike are workers from Myanmar’s rapidly growing garment industry.

From Quartz

When that failed, a general strike followed, which temporarily shut down the oil industry.

From The Daily Beast

When they meet again, Kramer is a union agitator preparing for a massive general strike that will be the story's dramatic apex.

From The Daily Beast

And of course, the members were mostly coming from their jobs, never mind the “general strike.”

From The Daily Beast

The idea of a general strike for the eight-hour day in May 1890, was abandoned in favor of a strike trade by trade.

From Project Gutenberg

The general strike of 1897 ended in the central competitive field after a twelve-weeks' struggle.

From Project Gutenberg

During the general strike of 1897 the United Mine Workers made a beginning in organizing the anthracite miners.

From Project Gutenberg

It was called for the purpose of discussing a general strike of shirt-waist workers in New York City.

From Project Gutenberg

A general strike involving all these men and women in the cloak making trade was declared on the 8th of July, 1910.

From Project Gutenberg