trade union

1 of 2

noun (1)

: labor union
trade unionism noun
trade unionist noun

trade unionist

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: a member of a trade union
2
: an advocate of trade unionism

Examples of trade union in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Tens of thousands of students, trade union activists and more are taking part in a march on Paris. — Elina Baudier Kim, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Students from hundreds of schools and scores of universities joined the protests, backed by their parents, teachers, and trade unions. — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 From 2011 to 2025, public filings required of labor unions show just two law firms collected more than $88 million in legal fees from trade unions. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Initially driven by high school pupils, teachers, higher education students and trade unions have since joined the ranks of the protests. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade union

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade union was in 1828

Rhymes for trade union

See All Rhymes for trade union

Browse Nearby Words

trade test
trade union
trade unionism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trade union.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20union. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

trade union

noun
: labor union
trade unionist noun

Legal Definition

trade union

noun
: labor union

More from Merriam-Webster on trade union

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trade union

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All