deunionize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Business/Labor Relations)
Quick answer
What does “deunionize” mean?
To cause a group of workers to no longer be represented by a labor union.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause a group of workers to no longer be represented by a labor union.
To disband or eliminate the unionized status of a workforce; to reduce or remove the influence of trade unions from an organization or industry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more common in American English, particularly in business and political discourse. In British English, 'break up a union', 'remove union recognition', or 'decertify' might be used in similar contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term is heavily politically charged. In US contexts, it's often associated with 'right-to-work' laws and corporate anti-union campaigns. In UK contexts, it may recall historical industrial disputes of the 1980s.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation; higher frequency in specialized business, legal, and political journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “deunionize” in a Sentence
[Subject] deunionized [Direct Object][Direct Object] was deunionized by [Subject]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “deunionize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm's controversial strategy was to deunionise its entire logistics division.
- New legislation could make it easier to deunionise certain public sector roles.
American English
- The corporation hired consultants to help deunionize the factory.
- The state passed a law designed to effectively deunionize the teaching profession.
adverb
British English
- The company acted deunionisingly, according to labor activists.
American English
- The new policy was seen as a move to operate more deunionizingly.
adjective
British English
- The deunionised workforce had less bargaining power.
- A deunionising trend was observed across the industry.
American English
- The deunionized plant saw a spike in reported safety violations.
- The deunionizing efforts faced fierce legal challenges.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The new management's strategy was to deunionize the factory to increase flexibility and reduce costs.
Academic
The paper examines the socio-economic impact of policies designed to deunionize the public sector.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear as: 'I heard they're trying to deunionize the plant where my brother works.'
Technical
The company filed for a decertification election in an attempt to deunionize the bargaining unit.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “deunionize”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “deunionize”
- Misspelling as 'deunionise' (acceptable UK variant, but less common). Incorrectly using as an intransitive verb (e.g., 'The workers deunionized').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related. 'Deunionize' is a specific action (to remove union status), while 'union-busting' describes a range of activities, often aggressive, aimed at preventing union formation or eliminating existing unions. Deunionization can be a goal or result of union-busting.
No, it is a transitive verb. It requires a direct object (e.g., deunionize *the workforce*, deunionize *the company*). Saying 'The workforce deunionized' is grammatically incorrect in standard usage.
The most common noun is 'deunionization' (or 'deunionisation' in UK spelling).
Yes, 'deunionise' is the standard British English spelling variant, following the '-ise' suffix pattern. 'Deunionize' is the standard American English spelling.
To cause a group of workers to no longer be represented by a labor union.
Deunionize is usually formal, technical (business/labor relations) in register.
Deunionize: in British English it is pronounced /diːˈjuːnjənaɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /diːˈjuːnjənaɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms; the term itself is often used as a charged political label.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DE- (undo) + UNION + -IZE (make into) = to undo the making of a union.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNIONS ARE STRUCTURES (to dismantle/break up/deconstruct).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'deunionize'?