international workingmen's association
C2formal, historical, academic
Definition
Meaning
The official name of the First International, a federation of workers' and socialist groups founded in London in 1864, historically significant in the labour movement.
Often referred to as the First International, this organization aimed to unite various left-wing and labour movements across national borders to promote working-class interests, socialism, and political action. It is a key term in historical and political studies.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a proper noun and a specific historical entity. It is not used to describe general international cooperation among workers. The term 'workingmen's' is an archaic form of 'workers". It is almost exclusively used in historical contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. The term is equally historical in both varieties. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Connotes 19th-century socialist and labour history, Marxist theory, and the origins of organised international labour movements.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary usage, appearing almost solely in historical texts, academic papers, and political history discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] International Workingmen's Association + past tense verb (e.g., was founded, met, dissolved)The founding/aims/history of + the International Workingmen's AssociationVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core usage. Appears in history, political science, and sociology texts discussing 19th-century labour movements and socialist theory.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise historical term in academic historiography.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The International Workingmen's Association congress took place in Geneva.
American English
- International Workingmen's Association documents are archived online.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The International Workingmen's Association was an important group in history.
- Karl Marx was a leading figure in the International Workingmen's Association, which sought to improve workers' rights globally.
- The ideological conflicts within the International Workingmen's Association, particularly between Marxists and anarchists, ultimately led to its dissolution in 1876.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the three 'I's: **I**nternational **I**nstitution for **I**ndustrial workers in the 1860s.
Conceptual Metaphor
An ORGANISATION IS A BODY (e.g., 'The association was formed', 'its branches').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'workingmen's' word-for-word as 'рабочих мужчин'. The standard Russian historical term is 'Первый Интернационал' or 'Международное товарищество рабочих'.
- Do not confuse with the 'Communist International' (Коминтерн), which is the Third International.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrectly using 'International Workers' Association' (though understandable, the historical name is fixed).
- Misspelling as 'workingman's' (singular possessive) instead of the correct 'workingmen's' (plural possessive).
- Using it as a common noun to refer to any modern international union.
Practice
Quiz
What is the International Workingmen's Association commonly known as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was dissolved in 1876. It was succeeded by later organisations known as the Second and Third Internationals.
As the first major organisation of its kind, it was simply known as 'The International'. Later ones were numbered (Second, Third).
Despite the name 'workingmen's', which reflected 19th-century language, it did concern itself with the rights of all workers. Some affiliated groups and figures advocated for women's rights.
They are completely different historical organisations. The IWA (1922) is an anarcho-syndicalist international, often called the 'Berlin International' or IWA-AIT.