a person whose activities or beliefs are characterized by unionism.
a member of a trade union.
(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.
(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
a supporter or advocate of unionism or union
a member of a trade union
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bonfires are lit annually in some unionist areas across Northern Ireland in July to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading season.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
About 200 people gathered near Newtownards Road, a unionist area on the edge of Belfast city centre.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026
Lockhart wrote that she was in Scarva alongside other unionist representatives and community leaders.
From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026
So-called peace lines separate some nationalist Catholic and unionist Protestant areas of the city.
From BBC ● May 12, 2026
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
Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows said the entire town was devastated and police should be given "patience and time" to complete their investigation.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Doug Beattie has said he is "saddened and a little bit angry" after quitting the Ulster Unionist Party.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
It is understood that ministers will discuss a plan from Democratic Unionist Party Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, which aims to allocate £17m in home heating oil support for households in Northern Ireland.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
Unionist Yao Yao said however that some farmers "still haven't received any money".
From Barron's ● Mar. 4, 2026
Mudd solved his problem by sending his cousin George, a loyal Unionist and therefore above suspicion by the federal authorities, to town to report Booth’s visit to Mudd’s farm.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
