union
/ˈjuːniən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈjuːniən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈyün-yən/ (ame, mw)
union — 名詞
1. the process of bringing separate parts together to form one whole, or the state
結合；聯合
將分離部分合為一體的過程或狀態
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.
兩家小公司的結合打造出一個實力更強勁的企業。
the union of X and Y
Antonia's latest painting is a union of bright colours and dark shadows.
Antonia 的最新畫作結合了明亮的色彩與深沉的陰影。
Working in close union with the local team helped us finish the project early.
與當地團隊密切合作，讓我們提前完成了專案。
Nia's garden design shows a beautiful union of native plants and modern shapes.
Nia 的花園設計將本土植物與現代造型優美地結合在一起。
- 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
聯盟；組織
為共同目標結合的團體或國家
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.
非洲聯盟致力於促進整個非洲大陸的貿易與和平。
the [Name] Union = organization of countries
Dario helped start a student union that campaigns for better housing on campus.
Dario 協助創立了一個學生聯盟，在校內爭取更好的住宿條件。
student union = organization for students
The credit union offered lower interest rates than the big banks in town.
這家信用合作社提供的貸款利率比城裡的大型銀行還要低。
The European Film Academy helps directors from different countries share funding and ideas.
歐洲電影學院協助來自不同國家的導演共享資金與創意。
- 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
聯邦
美國內戰時反對分裂的北方各州
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.
內戰期間，聯邦掌控了北方大部分的工廠與港口。
capitalized: the Union = northern states in the Civil War
General Grant led the Union army to victory at Vicksburg in 1863.
Grant 將軍於 1863 年率領聯邦軍隊在維克斯堡取得勝利。
After the war ended, the Union worked to rebuild the Southern states.
戰爭結束後，聯邦致力於重建南方各州。
Michael's great-grandfather fought on the Union side during the war.
Michael 的曾祖父在內戰期間曾為聯邦作戰。
- 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
合眾國
作為國家整體的美利堅合眾國
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.
美國總統每年都會向國會發表國情咨文。
State of the Union = annual presidential speech
Hawaii became the fiftieth state to join the Union in 1959.
夏威夷於 1959 年成為加入合眾國的第五十個州。
join the Union = become a US state
Élise learned how the Union expanded from thirteen colonies to cover most of North America.
Élise 研究了合眾國如何從十三個殖民地擴展到涵蓋北美大部分地區。
New states were added to the Union throughout the nineteenth century.
在十九世紀期間，陸續有新州加入合眾國。
- 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
聯合王國
四個地區組成的聯合王國
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.
1707 年的《聯合法案》建立了大不列顛王國。
Act of Union = law joining England and Scotland
Roya teaches courses on the history of the Union at a university in Cardiff.
Roya 在卡地夫的一所大學教授關於聯合王國歷史的課程。
Some politicians are calling for a referendum on the future of the Union.
部分政治人物呼籲就聯合王國的未來舉行公投。
The Union has brought together four nations under one parliament for centuries.
數個世紀以來，聯合王國將四個地區整合在單一國會之下。
- 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
歐盟
歐洲國家間的經濟與政治合作組織
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.
歐盟推出新規定，限制所有成員國的即棄塑膠用品。
the Union = the European Union
Citizens of the Union can live and work in any member country without a visa.
歐盟公民可以在任何成員國居住和工作，無需簽證。
citizens of the Union = EU citizens
Eitan's company received funding from the Union to develop clean energy technology.
Eitan 的公司獲得歐盟資助，用以開發潔淨能源技術。
Aarav works as an economist for one of the Union's main institutions in Brussels.
Aarav 在歐盟位於布魯塞爾的主要機構之一擔任經濟學家。
- 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
工會
維護勞工權益的組織
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.
Tomás 在工廠開始工作後不久就加入了工會。
collocation: join a union
The union voted to strike after management refused to increase wages.
管理層拒絕加薪後，工會投票決定罷工。
union + singular/plural verb
Union members elected a new representative to speak for them in meetings.
工會成員選出了一位新的代表，在會議上為他們發聲。
Hui pays her union dues every month to keep her membership active.
Hui 每個月繳交工會會費，以維持會員資格。
- 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,
橄欖球聯盟
每隊十五人的橄欖球運動
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.
Dewi 為大學的橄欖球聯盟隊效力了三個賽季。
collocation: play rugby union
Rugby union matches last for eighty minutes with two halves of play.
橄欖球聯盟比賽分為上下半場，共進行八十分鐘。
Pedro watched the rugby union World Cup final at a crowded sports bar.
Pedro 在一間擁擠的運動酒吧觀看橄欖球聯盟世界盃決賽。
Darius trained with the rugby union squad every Tuesday evening.
Darius 每星期二晚上都跟著橄欖球聯盟代表隊訓練。
- 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
婚姻
正式結婚的關係
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.
牧師在一間鄉間小教堂為 Christopher 與 Adaeze 的結合祈福。
formal register
Daniel and Mateo celebrated their union with friends and family from both sides of the world.
Daniel 與 Mateo 與來自世界各地的親友一同慶祝他們的結合。
Lakshmi's parents gave a toast to the happy union at the wedding dinner.
Lakshmi 的家人在婚宴上舉杯祝福這樁美滿的婚姻。
The marriage certificate officially recorded the union of Maeve and Darius.
結婚證書正式記錄了 Maeve 與 Darius 的結合。
- 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 — 形容詞
1. connected with a trade union — the organisation that represents workers in discu
工會的
與工會或工會活動有關的
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.
工會成員昨晚投票接受了新的合約方案。
attributive: union + member
Christopher spoke at the union meeting about workplace safety issues.
Christopher 在工會會議上談到工作場所的安全問題。
attributive: union + meeting
The union leaders negotiated better pay for all factory workers.
工會領袖為所有工廠工人爭取到更好的薪資。
Talia checked the union rules before requesting a shift change.
Talia 在申請調班前先查閱了工會規定。
Asher, a union representative, helped Kofi file a complaint about unsafe equipment at the warehouse.
工會代表 Asher 協助 Kofi 就倉庫的不安全設備提出投訴。
- 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.