strikebreaker

American  

[strahyk-brey-ker] / ˈstraɪkˌbreɪ kər /

noun

1. a person who takes part in breaking up a strike of workers, either by working or by furnishing workers.

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strikebreaker British  

/ ˈstraɪkˌbreɪkə /

noun

1. a person who tries to make a strike ineffectual by working or by taking the place of those on strike

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strikebreaker Cultural  

1. An employee hired to replace a striking worker. (See scab.)

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Other Word Forms

• strikebreaking noun

Etymology

Origin of strikebreaker

First recorded in 1900–05; strike + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

A notorious strikebreaker noted for paying his workers abysmally low wages, the complicated robber baron also publicly supported progressive tax laws, including estate taxes.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2023

Logan Marshall-Green of “Quarry” plays the strikebreaker hired to discourage an insurrection by any means necessary.

From Washington Post • Nov. 6, 2017

Hammett, who was working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency as a strikebreaker, declined the offer.

From Washington Post • Sep. 9, 2015

But everywhere he went his fellow workers knew that he had been a strikebreaker.

From Time Magazine Archive

This witness had acted as a strikebreaker up until the time he was subpoenaed.

From The Everett massacre A history of the class struggle in the lumber industry by Smith, Walker C.