shop steward: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical (Industrial Relations/Labour)
Quick answer
What does “shop steward” mean?
A union member elected by fellow workers in a factory, office, or other workplace to represent them in dealings with management.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A union member elected by fellow workers in a factory, office, or other workplace to represent them in dealings with management.
A key figure in industrial relations who acts as a liaison between the workforce and management, handling grievances, negotiating local agreements, and ensuring union rules and collective bargaining agreements are followed on the shop floor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard and identical in both varieties. The concept is central to labour relations in both the UK and US.
Connotations
Neutral/formal job title within union contexts. Can carry positive connotations (champion of workers' rights) or negative ones (potential source of disruption) depending on the speaker's perspective.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English, reflecting historically higher union density in certain sectors, but remains a core term in American labour discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “shop steward” in a Sentence
[Shop Steward] + [verb: represents/negotiates/meets with] + [workers/management][Workers] + [elect/appoint] + [a shop steward][The issue] + [was raised by] + [the shop steward]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shop steward” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was shop stewarded for the assembly line.
- She has agreed to shop steward for the next year.
American English
- He shop-stewarded the department during the contract talks.
- Who will shop steward for the night shift?
adjective
British English
- The shop-steward committee met with the directors.
- He took on shop steward duties.
American English
- The shop steward role is demanding.
- She attended a shop-steward training seminar.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR and industrial relations discussions, often in contexts of dispute resolution or collective bargaining.
Academic
Common in sociology, industrial relations, labour law, and political economy texts.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing workplace issues, strikes, or news about industrial action.
Technical
Precise term in labour union constitutions, collective agreements, and employment law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shop steward”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shop steward”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shop steward”
- Using 'shop steward' to refer to a manager or supervisor. | Confusing it with a 'trade union official' who may work at a regional/national level, not a specific workplace. | Spelling as 'shopsteward' (should be two words or hyphenated: shop-steward).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A shop steward is a local, workplace-based representative. Union leaders (e.g., General Secretary) typically hold national or regional offices. The shop steward is the 'front-line' representative.
In many countries, labour laws provide strong protections against the unfair dismissal of shop stewards for activities related to their representative role, though this varies by jurisdiction.
No. In this compound, 'shop' is an old term for a workshop or factory floor (e.g., machine shop, repair shop). It refers to the specific workplace unit.
Yes. While originating in factories, the term is now used for union representatives in many sectors, including offices, hospitals, schools, and the public sector.
A union member elected by fellow workers in a factory, office, or other workplace to represent them in dealings with management.
Shop steward is usually formal, technical (industrial relations/labour) in register.
Shop steward: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɒp ˈstjuːəd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɑːp ˈstuːərd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the shop floor”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STEWARD on a ship who looks after passengers; a SHOP STEWARD looks after workers in their workplace (the 'shop').
Conceptual Metaphor
REPRESENTATIVE IS A STEWARD (one entrusted with managing the interests of others).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary role of a shop steward?