union
gb/jˈunjən/ us/jˈunjən/
B1
English
~ 600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
workers' organization for rights
A group of workers who join together to protect their jobs and improve pay and conditions.
Usage pattern:
[someone] joins [a union]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'union' with 'team', but a union is usually a formal workers' group, not just any group of people.
Synonyms
labor union (A more specific term often used in American English to refer to the same concept.)
Antonyms
management (Refers to the employers or those in charge, often in opposition to a union's goals.)
Collocations
trade union
|union member
|union leader
|union meeting
|union representative
Themes
business
|law
|society
|work
Examples
- The union negotiated a better health plan for its members.
- Teachers in the union voted to go on strike.
- She has been active in the union for over ten years.
- The company met with the union to discuss wages.
Learner examples
- The union asked for more pay.
- My father is in a teachers' union.
- The union had a big meeting last week.
Noun
B2
action
2
joining together into one
When two or more things are brought together to make one thing.
Usage pattern:
[the] union of [two things]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'union' with 'meeting'; a meeting is temporary, while a union is about joining into one.
Synonyms
merger (Often used for companies or organizations joining, especially in business contexts.)
Antonyms
separation (The act of moving apart or ending a connection.)
Collocations
political union
|marriage union
|union of ideas
|union of states
Themes
general
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The union of these two rivers creates a wide delta.
- Their marriage was seen as a union between two cultures.
- The political union of the countries brought stability to the region.
Learner examples
- The union of water and flour makes dough.
- Marriage is a union of two people.
- The two companies formed a union.
Noun
B1
entity
3
organization for shared purpose
A group made by people or countries to work together for the same goal.
Synonyms
alliance (Suggests cooperation but may be less formal or permanent than a union.)
Antonyms
disbandment (The act of breaking up an organization or group.)
Collocations
student union
|European Union
|credit union
Themes
society
|politics
|business
Examples
- The European Union has 27 member states.
- She is the president of the student union.
- Members of the credit union can get lower interest rates.
Learner examples
- I joined the student union at my school.
- The European Union is made of many countries.
- A credit union can help you save money.
Noun
formal
B2
state
4
state of being married
When two people are married to each other.
Synonyms
marriage (The more common term in everyday use for this state.)
Antonyms
divorce (The legal ending of a marriage.)
Collocations
holy union
|marital union
Themes
relationships
|law
Examples
- They celebrated fifty years of marital union.
- Their union was blessed by the church.
- The law recognizes their civil union.
Learner examples
- Their union has lasted many years.
- Marriage is a type of union.
- They had a civil union last year.
Grammar
Dictionary form
union
IPA
GB/jˈunjən/
US/jˈunjən/
Syllables & stress
uni - on (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (uni)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: union
- Plural: union, unions
Word family
Forms
unions
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
disunity
noun
disunited
adjective
Advanced or less common
unionization
noun C1
unitary
adjective
Expressions
civil union
1/sˈɪvəl jˈunjən/
fixed phrase
legal partnership without marriage status
A legal relationship between two people that is like marriage but not exactly the same under the law.
Examples
- They entered into a civil union last summer.
- Civil unions are recognized in several states.
in union with
1/ˈɪn jˈunjən wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
together in agreement or cooperation
Doing something together with someone or something else in agreement.
Examples
- In union with local charities, the company launched a food drive.
- She worked in union with her colleagues to finish the project.
trade union
1/tɹˈeɪd jˈunjən/
fixed phrase
workers' organization for rights at work
A group of workers who join together to protect their jobs and improve pay and conditions at work.
Examples
- The trade union is negotiating with management over pay.
- Trade unions often organize strikes when talks fail.