unionize

[ yoon-yuh-nahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, un·ion·ized, un·ion·iz·ing.

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.

verb (used without object)

, un·ion·ized, un·ion·iz·ing.

1. to join in a labor union.
2. Obsolete. to form a union.

unionize

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˌunioniˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• un·ion·i·za·tion [yoon-y, uh, -nahy-, zey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• un·ion·iz·er noun
• o·ver·un·ion·ize verb overunionized overunionizing

Word History and Origins

Origin of unionize¹

First recorded in 1835–45; union + -ize

Example Sentences

In many states, particularly those where care workers haven’t been able to unionize and bargain for protections and better pay, there’s an ongoing labor shortage that only gets worse every year.

From Vox

They agreed in principle to teacher input, but they kept collective bargaining and the right to unionize out of legislation.

From Washington Post

They ultimately lost a vote that would have allowed the warehouse employees to unionize.

From Ozy

Ford too has invested in a separate battery company, which may or may not be unionized one day.

From Time

Sarah Jaffe writes that a failed vote to unionize Amazon workers at a facility in Alabama may be discouraging, but around the US, workers in the increasingly expansive tech sector are waking up to their power to organize, and to demand dignity.

From MIT Technology Review

To date, the public at large does not support the efforts to unionize.

From The Daily Beast

Efforts to unionize are rare but not unheard of in the fast food industry.

From The Daily Beast

In the summer of 2005, the activists tried to unionize their Los Angeles office.

From The Daily Beast

A Dutch general got up and said, “The first thing you need to do is unionize your army.”

From The Daily Beast

In 1901 the United Hatters' Union practically ordered him to discharge his non-union men and unionize his factory.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as the troops go out, we fellows who have been working to unionize this region are going to catch it.

From Project Gutenberg

They are engaged in a fight to unionize it and are as anxious to succeed as are the operators to prevent them from doing so.

From Project Gutenberg

They are not on strike: they've been locked out by Frick, because he wants to non-unionize the works.

From Project Gutenberg