What does "unionize" mean?
To organize workers into a union.
Unionize
/ˈjuːnjənaɪz/ verb
verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To organize workers into a union.
- Grammar: unionize is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: organize, affiliate, ally, associate.
- Useful contrasts: deunionize, dissolve.
- Usage evidence: Much attention recently has been given to efforts to unionize corporate giants Amazon and Starbucks in the United States. However, the ILO report highlights the important role collective bargaining plays in developing, as well as developed countries. Lead author of the ILO report Susan Hayter says 57 of the agreements reviewed were in African countries. She says country studies found that collective bargaining in those countries is as effective, if not in some ways more effective, than in developed countries.
How to use "unionize"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "unionize" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "unionize" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "unionize" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "unionize" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "unionize" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "organize" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "unionize", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To organize workers into a union. ambitransitive
"The company laid off all the workers when they tried to unionize."
- 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. physical, rare, transitive
"For the experiments designed to study the effect of pH, aqueous solutions of NaOH were used. Approximately 3 mL of the aqueous phase was drawn out for sampling and a portion of this was used to determine the pH[…]. The other portion was analyzed after addition of HCl solution to bring the pH below 3.0 (to unionize the dissociated vinyl acids)."
- 3 form or join a union wordnet
- 4 Synonym of deionize.; Of an ionized substance, to return to a neutral state. intransitive, physical, rare
"The water absorbency of the anionically starch-grafted AA/AM absorbent is markedly affected by the pH of the buffer solution at different ionic strengths. The charge of the ionic monomer affects the pH sensitivity of the superabsorbent polymers. An acidic superabsorbent normally ionizes at high pH but unionizes at low pH."
- 5 recruit for a union or organize into a union wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Much attention recently has been given to efforts to unionize corporate giants Amazon and Starbucks in the United States. However, the ILO report highlights the important role collective bargaining plays in developing, as well as developed countries. Lead author of the ILO report Susan Hayter says 57 of the agreements reviewed were in African countries. She says country studies found that collective bargaining in those countries is as effective, if not in some ways more effective, than in developed countries."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "unionize"?
Common synonyms include: organize, affiliate, ally, associate, band, band together.
How do you use "unionize" in a sentence?
Much attention recently has been given to efforts to unionize corporate giants Amazon and Starbucks in the United States. However, the ILO report highlights the important role collective bargaining plays in developing, as well as developed countries. Lead author of the ILO report Susan Hayter says 57 of the agreements reviewed were in African countries. She says country studies found that collective bargaining in those countries is as effective, if not in some ways more effective, than in developed countries.
How do you pronounce "unionize"?
Pronounced /ˈjuːnjənaɪz/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From union + -ize.
Etymology 2
From un- + ionize.