american federation of labor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “american federation of labor” mean?
A major historical federation of labor unions in the United States, founded in 1886 and later merging to form the AFL-CIO.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A major historical federation of labor unions in the United States, founded in 1886 and later merging to form the AFL-CIO.
A significant labor organization that represented skilled craft unions, advocated for workers' rights, collective bargaining, and better working conditions, playing a pivotal role in the development of the U.S. labor movement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to U.S. history. In a British context, one might refer to the "Trades Union Congress (TUC)" or historical British unions like the "Amalgamated Society of Engineers" as analogous national bodies.
Connotations
In the U.S., it connotes the foundation of modern organized labor. In the UK, it is recognized as a key part of American history with no direct domestic equivalent in name, though the concept of a national union federation is familiar.
Frequency
Used almost exclusively in American contexts. Very rare in everyday British English outside specific historical or comparative academic discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “american federation of labor” in a Sentence
The American Federation of Labor + [past tense verb] (e.g., merged, represented, advocated)[Subject] + joined the American Federation of LaborA key figure in the American Federation of LaborVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “american federation of labor” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The AFL-CIO is its successor.
- AFL-style organizing focused on crafts.
American English
- He studied AFL history.
- AFL-affiliated unions had certain rules.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used in contemporary business except in references to labor relations history.
Academic
Frequently used in history, political science, economics, and labor studies texts and lectures.
Everyday
Very low frequency. Might appear in documentaries, historical articles, or during discussions about labor rights history.
Technical
Used in labor law, industrial relations, and historical research as a specific institutional reference.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “american federation of labor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “american federation of labor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “american federation of labor”
- Incorrect: 'American Federation of Labour' (using British spelling in the U.S. proper name).
- Incorrect: 'The American Federation of Labor was a political party.' (It was a union federation, not a party).
- Incorrect: Using it to refer to modern general unions instead of the specific historical entity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not as a separate entity. It merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) in 1955 to form the AFL-CIO, which is active today.
Samuel Gompers served as its first and long-time president, from its founding until his death in 1924 (except for one year).
AFL stands for American Federation of Labor. After the 1955 merger, it became part of the name 'AFL-CIO'.
The AFL focused on practical goals (wages, hours, conditions) for skilled workers within specific trades. The Knights of Labor was a broader, more idealistic organization that included both skilled and unskilled workers and pursued wider social reforms.
A major historical federation of labor unions in the United States, founded in 1886 and later merging to form the AFL-CIO.
American federation of labor is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
American federation of labor: in British English it is pronounced /əˌmer.ɪ.kən ˌfed.ərˈeɪ.ʃən əv ˈleɪ.bər/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmɛr.ə.kən ˌfɛ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən əv ˈleɪ.bɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms directly from this proper noun.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AMERICAN workers FEDERATED (joined together) their LABOR unions.
Conceptual Metaphor
An organization is a body (the 'federation' as the collective body of labor). A movement is a journey (the AFL's history is a path for workers' rights).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary focus of the American Federation of Labor?