unionize

American  

[yoon-yuh-nahyz] / ˈyun yəˌnaɪz /

especially British, unionise

verb (used with object)

unionized, unionizing

1. to organize into a labor union; bring into or incorporate in a labor union.

2. to subject to the rules of a labor union.

3. Obsolete. to form into a union.

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verb (used without object)

unionized, unionizing

1. to join in a labor union.

2. Obsolete. to form a union.

unionize British  

/ ˈjuːnjəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to organize (workers) into a trade union

2. to join or cause to join a trade union

3. (tr) to subject to the rules or codes of a trade union

4. to join or become joined in marriage or civil partnership

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Other Word Forms

• overunionize verb
• unionization noun
• unionizer noun

Etymology

Origin of unionize

First recorded in 1835–45; union + -ize

Example Sentences

The strike among unionized workers, which began March 16, was the largest at a meat processing plant in decades.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The first time when we watched it, I cried at the end when they were showing the global workers unionizing and uprising and stuff,” said Liu.

From Los Angeles Times

Actress Brooke Shields, the president of Actors’ Equity, said, “Negotiating a first contract is always a challenge, and in this case, we had no other unionized escape rooms to use for a model.”

From Los Angeles Times

In reality, such meetings allow businesses to provide their side of the story, which employees deserve to hear before voting to unionize.

From The Wall Street Journal

The bakery shut down in 1969 because the founder did not want his company to unionize, The Times once reported.

From Los Angeles Times