unionist

[ yoon-yuh-nist ]

/ ˈyun yə nɪst /

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noun

a person whose activities or beliefs are characterized by unionism.

(initial capital letter) a supporter of the federal union of the United States of America, especially during the Civil War.

British Politics. (formerly) an upholder of the legislative union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

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Origin of unionist

First recorded in 1790–1800; union + -ist

OTHER WORDS FROM unionist

un·ion·is·tic, adjectivepro·un·ion·ist, adjective, noun

Words nearby unionist

Union City, Uniondale, Union Day, Union flag, unionism, unionist, Unionist Party, unionization, unionize, union jack, union label

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use unionist in a sentence

Tinovimbanashe Gwenyaya, a former trade unionist in South Africa, has also seen the power of Twitter first hand.
Twitter Has Helped Build Social Movements Across the World. Now Organizers Fear For Its Future|Rebecca Chowdhury|April 29, 2022|Time
After another former general led Labor to defeat in 2003, the party selected trade unionist Amir Peretz before the 2006 elections.
Generals Out, Journalists In As Center-Left Leaders|Geoffrey Levin|January 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Why should I see any value in disrespecting the unionist community?
Former IRA Man Says he Would Welcome Cameras For QE2 Handshake Tomorrow|Tom Sykes|June 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His unionist opponents, however, are determined to force a simple, one-question referendum on Salmond: yes or no to independence?
A Stand-Alone Scotland|Alex Massie|January 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST

State officers of the Unionist Virginia government were required to take an oath of allegiance to the federal government.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
It's a fact that the Tory total figures out much larger than the Liberal Unionist.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 108, April 6, 1895|Various
However, the Unionist Government had decided on their policy, which they were determined to carry through.
Is Ulster Right?|Anonymous
He was now in the comfortable position of a non-unionist in a union shed who had jumped into a sacked man's place.
Over the Sliprails|Henry Lawson
For let any Unionist glance round the world outside the British Empire.
Home Rule|Harold Spender

British Dictionary definitions for unionist (1 of 2)

unionist

/ (ˈjuːnjənɪst) /

noun

a supporter or advocate of unionism or union

a member of a trade union

adjective

mainly British of or relating to union or unionism, esp trade unionism

Derived forms of unionist

unionistic, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unionist (2 of 2)

Unionist

/ (ˈjuːnjənɪst) /

noun

(sometimes not capital)

(before 1920) a supporter of the union of all Ireland and Great Britain
(since 1920) a supporter of union between Britain and Northern Ireland

a supporter of the US federal Union, esp during the Civil War

adjective

of, resembling, or relating to Unionists

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012