criminal syndicalism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare (C2+)Specialist (Academic/Legal/Historical)
Quick answer
What does “criminal syndicalism” mean?
A political doctrine advocating the use of violence, sabotage, or criminal acts by labour unions or syndicates to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a syndicalist society.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A political doctrine advocating the use of violence, sabotage, or criminal acts by labour unions or syndicates to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a syndicalist society.
It also refers to laws (such as the Criminal Syndicalism Acts in the US, 1917-1920s) that criminalized such advocacy, effectively targeting radical labour movements and groups like the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily American, stemming from specific US state laws. In British contexts, the concept is covered by terms like 'sedition', 'incitement', or laws related to trade union criminality, but the specific phrase 'criminal syndicalism' is not part of the British legal lexicon.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong connotations of historical political repression, Red Scare tactics, and the conflict between state power and radical labour movements.
Frequency
The term is virtually non-existent in contemporary British English and is only found in historical or legal texts in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “criminal syndicalism” in a Sentence
[Subject] was prosecuted for criminal syndicalism.The state enacted a criminal syndicalism law.His speeches were deemed to promote criminal syndicalism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “criminal syndicalism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable; the term is not used as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable; the term is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; the term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable; the term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The historical period saw criminal-syndicalism legislation passed.
American English
- He faced a criminal syndicalism indictment in Sacramento.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and legal studies to discuss early 20th-century labour law and civil liberties.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be used.
Technical
Used in precise legal-historical discourse to refer to specific statutes and court cases.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “criminal syndicalism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “criminal syndicalism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “criminal syndicalism”
- Using it to describe modern peaceful union activity.
- Confusing it with 'syndicalism' alone, which is a broader economic theory.
- Spelling error: 'syndacalism'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Most specific criminal syndicalism laws have been repealed or invalidated by courts on First Amendment grounds, but similar conduct could be prosecuted under modern anti-terrorism or incitement laws.
Syndicalism is a political theory advocating worker control via unions. 'Criminal syndicalism' specifically refers to the advocacy of violent or criminal methods to achieve those ends, which was made illegal.
Primarily members of radical labour unions like the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or 'Wobblies'), anarchists, and other left-wing groups during the Red Scares.
Yes, California's Criminal Syndicalism Act of 1919 defined it as advocating crime, sabotage, or unlawful acts of violence to effect political or industrial change.
A political doctrine advocating the use of violence, sabotage, or criminal acts by labour unions or syndicates to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a syndicalist society.
Criminal syndicalism is usually specialist (academic/legal/historical) in register.
Criminal syndicalism: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɪm.ɪ.nəl ˈsɪn.dɪ.kə.lɪ.zəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɪm.ə.nəl ˈsɪn.dɪ.kəˌlɪ.zəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be charged under the syndicalism laws.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CRIMINAL SYNDICALISM = CRIME for advocating SYNDICATES (unions) to use force.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS AS DANGEROUS WEAPONS (advocacy is treated as a direct act of violence).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for the term 'criminal syndicalism'?