Standard Lemma guide

unionize

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈjuːnjənaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ʌnˈaɪənaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: Y UW1 N Y AH0 N AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To organize workers into a trade union.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • The company laid off all the workers when they tried to unionize.
  • My uncle got roughed up by some corporate thugs after they caught him trying to unionize their workers.
  • She attended a teach-in to learn how to unionize her workplace.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: trade-unionize

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Synonym of deionize.

To cause (an ionized substance) to return to a neutral state; to convert (an ion) into a neutral atom or molecule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: physical, rare, transitive

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Synonym of deionize.

Of an ionized substance, to return to a neutral state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, physical, rare

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

form or join a union

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The auto workers decided to unionize

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unionise, organize, organise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: join, fall in, get together

5

verb

Meaning 5

recruit for a union or organize into a union

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We don't allow people to come into our plant and try to unionize the workers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unionise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: enroll, inscribe, enter, enrol, recruit

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English union Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English unionize From union + -ize.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h2ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h2éntsder. Proto-Germanic *anda- Proto-West Germanic *anda- Old English and- Old English on- Middle English on- English un- Proto-Indo-European *h1ey- Proto-Indo-European *h1éyti Proto-Hellenic *éimi Ancient Greek ἰόν (ión)der. English ion Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English ionize English unionize From un- + ionize.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: обединявам се в синдикат (obedinjavam se v sindikat) — To organize workers into a union
  • French: syndiquer — To organize workers into a union
  • Hebrew: הִתְאַגֵּד (hit'agéd) — To organize workers into a union
  • Portuguese: sindicalizar — To organize workers into a union
  • Spanish: sindicar — To organize workers into a union
  • Swedish: gå med i facket — To organize workers into a union