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unionist

[yoon-yuh-nist]
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noun
  1. a person whose activities or beliefs are characterized by unionism.
  2. trade union.
  3. (initial capital letter) a supporter of the federal union of the United States of America, especially during the Civil War.
  4. 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
Related formsun·ion·is·tic, adjectivepro·un·ion·ist, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unionist

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Those Radicals who had become Unionist wrote to congratulate me.

  • Speaking of the Unionist lack of courage, you must not be too much surprised.

    Ireland as It Is

    Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

  • In six months he was Unionist to the backbone, and not only Unionist but Conservative.

    Ireland as It Is

    Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

  • You never see a Unionist idling the day away at street-corners.

    Ireland as It Is

    Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

  • All their rejoicing passed off without a word of dissent from any Unionist.

    Ireland as It Is

    Robert John Buckley (AKA R.J.B.)

British Dictionary definitions for unionist

Unionist

noun
  1. (sometimes not capital)
    1. (before 1920) a supporter of the union of all Ireland and Great Britain
    2. (since 1920) a supporter of union between Britain and Northern Ireland
  2. a supporter of the US federal Union, esp during the Civil War
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adjective
  1. of, resembling, or relating to Unionists
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unionist

noun
  1. a supporter or advocate of unionism or union
  2. a member of a trade union
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adjective
  1. mainly British of or relating to union or unionism, esp trade unionism
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Derived Formsunionistic, adjective
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