union
/ˈjuːniən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈjuːniən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈyün-yən/ (ame, mw)
union — noun
1. the process of bringing separate parts together to form one whole, or the state
the process of bringing separate parts together to form one whole, or the state that exists after they have been combined
The union of the two small companies created a much stronger business.
the union of X and Y
Antonia's latest painting is a union of bright colours and dark shadows.
Working in close union with the local team helped us finish the project early.
Nia's garden design shows a beautiful union of native plants and modern shapes.
- combination
more general; union suggests the parts form a single new whole, while combination can be looser
- merger
specifically about companies or organizations joining; more formal and business-oriented
- blend
suggests the parts mix smoothly together, often used for flavours, colours, or styles
- separation
the state of being apart or divided
- division
the act of splitting something into parts
文法句型
the union of X and Y
in union with
常見錯誤
2. a collection of people, groups, or nations coming together under a common purpos
a collection of people, groups, or nations coming together under a common purpose or a single governing structure
The African Union works to improve trade and peace across the continent.
the [Name] Union = organization of countries
Dario helped start a student union that campaigns for better housing on campus.
student union = organization for students
The credit union offered lower interest rates than the big banks in town.
The European Film Academy helps directors from different countries share funding and ideas.
- alliance
suggests a looser arrangement between independent parties; union implies a tighter, more unified structure
- coalition
usually temporary and formed for a specific purpose; union is more permanent
- federation
a union of states or groups that retain some independence under a central authority
- league
often used for sports or political groups; suggests members keep more independence
文法句型
the [Name] Union
a union of [members]
用法筆記
Do not confuse this sense with 'trade union' (sense 7). This sense describes any group formed for a common purpose — political, social, or financial — not specifically workers' rights organizations. When the context is about workers and employers, use sense 7 instead.
常見錯誤
3. the Northern states that stayed loyal to the federal government and fought again
the Northern states that stayed loyal to the federal government and fought against the Southern states that had broken away during the 1861–1865 national conflict
During the Civil War, the Union controlled most of the Northern factories and ports.
capitalized: the Union = northern states in the Civil War
General Grant led the Union army to victory at Vicksburg in 1863.
After the war ended, the Union worked to rebuild the Southern states.
Michael's great-grandfather fought on the Union side during the war.
- the North
a geographical label for the same group; less formal than 'the Union'
- the Federal government
refers to the national government that fought the Confederacy
- the Confederacy
the eleven southern states that seceded from the Union
- the South
the geographical region that formed the Confederacy
文法句型
the Union
用法筆記
Always capitalized as 'the Union' when referring to this historical entity. In modern US political discussion, 'the Union' (sense 4) refers to the United States as a whole, not just the Civil War coalition.
常見錯誤
4. the country known as the USA, seen as a single political unit of individual stat
the country known as the USA, seen as a single political unit of individual states that share a federal government
The President delivers a State of the Union address to Congress each year.
State of the Union = annual presidential speech
Hawaii became the fiftieth state to join the Union in 1959.
join the Union = become a US state
Élise learned how the Union expanded from thirteen colonies to cover most of North America.
New states were added to the Union throughout the nineteenth century.
- the United States
the full standard name; 'the Union' is a more historical or formal alternative
- America
common in informal speech; less precise than 'the Union'
文法句型
the Union
join the Union
State of the Union
用法筆記
In modern US political language, 'the Union' refers to the United States as a continuing political body. This differs from sense 3 (US CIVIL WAR), which refers specifically to the Civil War-era coalition. 'State of the Union' is a fixed expression for the president's annual address.
5. the country formed by Great Britain and Northern Ireland, governed as one sovere
the country formed by Great Britain and Northern Ireland, governed as one sovereign state under a single parliament
The Act of Union in 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Act of Union = law joining England and Scotland
Roya teaches courses on the history of the Union at a university in Cardiff.
Some politicians are calling for a referendum on the future of the Union.
The Union has brought together four nations under one parliament for centuries.
- the United Kingdom
the full formal name; 'the Union' is a shorter, more political reference
- the UK
the standard abbreviation; 'the Union' has a more political or historical tone
文法句型
the Union
用法筆記
In British political discussion, 'the Union' almost always refers to the United Kingdom. This usage is distinct from 'the European Union' (sense 6). The 'Act of Union' is a historical reference to the 1707 law that joined England and Scotland.
常見錯誤
6. short for the European Union (EU), the political and economic organization of Eu
short for the European Union (EU), the political and economic organization of European member countries that work together on shared policies including trade, law, and social issues
The Union introduced new rules to limit single-use plastics across all member states.
the Union = the European Union
Citizens of the Union can live and work in any member country without a visa.
citizens of the Union = EU citizens
Eitan's company received funding from the Union to develop clean energy technology.
Aarav works as an economist for one of the Union's main institutions in Brussels.
- the European Union
the full formal name, appropriate for official contexts
- the EU
the standard abbreviation, very common in news and everyday writing
文法句型
the Union
the European Union
用法筆記
In news and political writing, 'the Union' alone often refers to the European Union when the context is European affairs. This is especially common in British and European media. The full formal name 'the European Union' is used in official documents and at first mention in a text.
常見錯誤
7. an organization set up by employees within the same trade or workplace to defend
an organization set up by employees within the same trade or workplace to defend their interests, negotiate better pay and conditions, and speak with a single voice when dealing with their employer.
Tomás joined the union soon after starting work at the factory.
collocation: join a union
The union voted to strike after management refused to increase wages.
union + singular/plural verb
Union members elected a new representative to speak for them in meetings.
Hui pays her union dues every month to keep her membership active.
- trade union
the full British term, more formal than just union
- labor union
the standard American English term for the same type of organization
- guild
historically for craftspeople; now rarer and suggests a professional association rather than a bargaining body
文法句型
union + singular/plural verb
用法筆記
In British English this sense is often expressed as trade union; in American English labour union or labor union is more common. The word is frequently used with a singular verb (the union has decided) even when referring to a group of people.
常見錯誤
8. the more widespread type of rugby in which two sides of fifteen players compete,
the more widespread type of rugby in which two sides of fifteen players compete, commonly referred to simply as rugby to tell it apart from rugby league — a thirteen-a-side version with different rules.
Dewi played rugby union for his university team for three seasons.
collocation: play rugby union
Rugby union matches last for eighty minutes with two halves of play.
Pedro watched the rugby union World Cup final at a crowded sports bar.
Darius trained with the rugby union squad every Tuesday evening.
- rugby
in everyday use, rugby usually means rugby union in most countries
- fifteen-a-side rugby
technical description emphasising the number of players
- rugby league
the other main form of rugby, with thirteen players per team and different rules
用法筆記
In many countries where rugby is popular, union alone refers to rugby union by default. The phrase rugby union is used specifically to contrast with rugby league, which has different rules and thirteen players per team.
9. the formal relationship of marriage, especially when spoken of with respect and
the formal relationship of marriage, especially when spoken of with respect and as a lasting bond between two people.
The priest blessed the union of Christopher and Adaeze in a small village church.
formal register
Daniel and Mateo celebrated their union with friends and family from both sides of the world.
Lakshmi's parents gave a toast to the happy union at the wedding dinner.
The marriage certificate officially recorded the union of Maeve and Darius.
- divorce
the legal ending of a marriage
- separation
a period when a married couple live apart
用法筆記
This sense is almost entirely restricted to formal contexts — wedding ceremonies, legal documents, and literary writing. In everyday conversation marriage is far more common.
常見錯誤
union — adjective
1. connected with a trade union — the organisation that represents workers in discu
connected with a trade union — the organisation that represents workers in discussions with their employer about pay, working hours, and other conditions of work
Union members voted to accept the new contract offer last night.
attributive: union + member
Christopher spoke at the union meeting about workplace safety issues.
attributive: union + meeting
The union leaders negotiated better pay for all factory workers.
Talia checked the union rules before requesting a shift change.
Asher, a union representative, helped Kofi file a complaint about unsafe equipment at the warehouse.
- labour
used attributively in British English (labour movement, labour rights), broader in scope than just trade-unions
- industrial
relates to industry and employers as well as workers, not specific to trade unions
- non-union
direct opposition — describes workers or workplaces not represented by a trade union
- management
relates to the employer side rather than the worker-representation side
文法句型
union + noun (union member, union rules, union leader)
be + union (those workers are union)
用法筆記
This adjective is most commonly used before nouns such as member, leader, official, representative, rules, contract, meeting, and activity. In British English, 'trade union' is the noun form; 'union' alone as an adjective typically implies trade-union-related. The predicative use ('these workers are union') is informal and less common.