trade unionist

American

[treyd yoon-yuh-nist] / ˈtreɪd ˈyun yə nɪst /

Also trades-unionist or trade-unionist

noun

a member of a trade union.
a person who favors or advocates trade unionism.

Etymology

Origin of trade unionist

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We will continue the fight to the end," farm trade unionist Costas Tzelas told a crowd of a few thousand at central Syntagma Square, including workers opposed to a new collective bargaining law.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

He funded trade unionist Makhan Singh’s printing press, which churned out pro-independence leaflets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

Ribeiro-Addy describes herself as a socialist, feminist, anti-racist and trade unionist in her X bio.

From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025

A staunch trade unionist, he worked in a plastics factory and supported the community, raising money for a new village hall at Brantham.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2024

Ray was a staunch trade unionist, a member of the Cape executive and the Communist Party, and the first ANC leader to be arrested in the Defiance Campaign.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023