trade union

American  

noun

trade unions plural

1. a labor union of craftspeople or workers in related crafts, as distinguished from general workers or a union including all workers in an industry.

2. labor union.

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trade union British  

noun

1. an association of employees formed to improve their incomes and working conditions by collective bargaining with the employer or employer organizations

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• trade unionism
  noun
• trade unionist
  noun
• trade-union
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• trade unions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trade union

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trade union

The partnership will allow the two automakers to reduce production costs at the Valencia site, which assembled fewer than 100,000 vehicles in 2025, its lowest output on record, according to the UGT Ford trade union.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

After a lawsuit by the Verdi trade union two years ago, a court banned automated shops that operate without personnel from opening on Sundays.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026

This time round, he has run unopposed and his route to No 10 will not require a vote over the summer among party members and affiliated trade union supporters.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, trade union leaders, and Westminster's energy committee are among those echoing US President Donald Trump's call for the UK to "open up the North Sea."

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Suggestions came in from sports and cultural clubs, church groups, ratepayers’ associations, women’s organizations, schools, trade union branches.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela