big labor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Low-Frequency (Specialist/Journalistic)Formal, Political, Journalistic, Economic commentary. Primarily used in US contexts.
Quick answer
What does “big labor” mean?
A term used (often in a political or economic context) to refer to large, powerful labor unions collectively, especially when viewed as a significant political or economic force.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A term used (often in a political or economic context) to refer to large, powerful labor unions collectively, especially when viewed as a significant political or economic force.
Can imply a monolithic, influential, and sometimes adversarial bloc within industrial relations and politics. Often carries a critical or cautious tone from those outside the labor movement, suggesting concentrated power that may oppose business or government interests.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Overwhelmingly an American term. The UK equivalent concept would more commonly be referred to as 'the trade union movement', 'the unions', or 'organized labour' without the 'Big' prefix, which carries a distinct US political framing.
Connotations
US: Often used by conservatives, business interests, or political commentators to frame unions as a powerful, self-interested bloc. Can be pejorative or neutral depending on context. UK: The term is rarely used; discussing union power typically uses different phrasing without the same political shorthand.
Frequency
Virtually exclusive to American English. Appears in political speeches, op-eds, and economic analyses.
Grammar
How to Use “big labor” in a Sentence
Big Labor + verb (lobbies, opposes, spends)verb + Big Labor (curb, confront, challenge)adjective + Big Labor (powerful, entrenched, militant)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big labor” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The article discussed the influence of major unions, though the term 'Big Labor' is less common here.
- Commentators sometimes import the American phrase 'Big Labor' when analysing US politics.
American English
- The senator's campaign relied heavily on funding from Big Labor.
- For decades, Big Labor was a dominant force in Democratic Party politics.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in discussions of labor costs, regulations, and political lobbying. 'The new legislation is seen as a direct challenge to Big Labor.'
Academic
Used in political science, economics, and history papers analyzing the role of unions in the US political system.
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Would only appear when discussing politics.
Technical
Not a technical term per se, but a fixed political/economic label.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big labor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big labor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big labor”
- Writing it in lowercase ('big labor') loses its status as a proper noun.
- Using it in a UK context where it sounds unnatural.
- Confusing it with a general description of a large workforce.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent and often reveals the speaker's perspective. It is frequently used by critics of union power (implying outsized, negative influence) but can be used neutrally in analytical writing.
It is highly unusual. The concept exists, but the specific label 'Big Labor/Labour' is an American political construct. UK discourse uses terms like 'the union movement' or 'the trade unions'.
'Unions' is a neutral, general term for labor organizations. 'Big Labor' specifically refers to the largest and most politically powerful unions acting as a collective force, emphasizing their scale and political clout.
Yes, when used in its specific, institutional sense. It functions as a proper noun, similar to 'Big Pharma' or 'Big Tech'. Lowercase 'big labor' would be interpreted as a simple description (e.g., 'a project requiring big labor').
A term used (often in a political or economic context) to refer to large, powerful labor unions collectively, especially when viewed as a significant political or economic force.
Big labor is usually formal, political, journalistic, economic commentary. primarily used in us contexts. in register.
Big labor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈleɪ.bər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈleɪ.bɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the pocket of Big Labor”
- “A battle between Big Labor and Big Business”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the three 'Bigs' in American politics: Big Government, Big Business, and Big Labor. They are all portrayed as large, powerful institutions.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOR UNIONS ARE A LARGE, POWERFUL ENTITY (often a machine, a bloc, or a special interest).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Big Labor' MOST appropriately used?