union

union — noun

1. the process of bringing separate parts together to form one whole, or the state

1.nounB2
Definition

the process of bringing separate parts together to form one whole, or the state that exists after they have been combined

Example

The union of the two small companies created a much stronger business.

the union of X and Y

Antonia's latest painting is a union of bright colours and dark shadows.

Common collocations
  • the union of A and B
  • in union with
  • a perfect union
  • close union
Synonyms
  • combination

    more general; union suggests the parts form a single new whole, while combination can be looser

  • merger

    specifically about companies or organizations joining; more formal and business-oriented

  • blend

    suggests the parts mix smoothly together, often used for flavours, colours, or styles

Antonyms
  • separation

    the state of being apart or divided

  • division

    the act of splitting something into parts

Grammar Patterns

the union of X and Y

in union with

Common Mistakes

We need to promote union among the class.
We need to promote unity among the class.
union refers to the act or result of joining things together; unity refers to a feeling of togetherness among people.

2. a collection of people, groups, or nations coming together under a common purpos

2.nounB2
Definition

a collection of people, groups, or nations coming together under a common purpose or a single governing structure

Example

The African Union works to improve trade and peace across the continent.

the [Name] Union = organization of countries

Dario helped start a student union that campaigns for better housing on campus.

student union = organization for students

Common collocations
  • form a union
  • join a union
  • a union of states/countries/organizations
  • credit union
  • student union
Synonyms
  • alliance

    suggests a looser arrangement between independent parties; union implies a tighter, more unified structure

  • coalition

    usually temporary and formed for a specific purpose; union is more permanent

  • federation

    a union of states or groups that retain some independence under a central authority

  • league

    often used for sports or political groups; suggests members keep more independence

Grammar Patterns

the [Name] Union

a union of [members]

Usage Note

Do not confuse this sense with 'trade union' (sense 7). This sense describes any group formed for a common purpose — political, social, or financial — not specifically workers' rights organizations. When the context is about workers and employers, use sense 7 instead.

Common Mistakes

The workers formed a union to demand higher wages.' (when meaning trade union, this is actually correct — but use sense 7's specific term for clarity).
The postal workers' union negotiated a new contract.
clarifies that it is a labor organization, not a general alliance.

3. the Northern states that stayed loyal to the federal government and fought again

3.nounB2
Definition

the Northern states that stayed loyal to the federal government and fought against the Southern states that had broken away during the 1861–1865 national conflict

Example

During the Civil War, the Union controlled most of the Northern factories and ports.

capitalized: the Union = northern states in the Civil War

General Grant led the Union army to victory at Vicksburg in 1863.

Common collocations
  • the Union army
  • the Union states
  • fight for the Union
  • the Union government
Synonyms
  • the North

    a geographical label for the same group; less formal than 'the Union'

  • the Federal government

    refers to the national government that fought the Confederacy

Antonyms
  • the Confederacy

    the eleven southern states that seceded from the Union

  • the South

    the geographical region that formed the Confederacy

Grammar Patterns

the Union

Usage Note

Always capitalized as 'the Union' when referring to this historical entity. In modern US political discussion, 'the Union' (sense 4) refers to the United States as a whole, not just the Civil War coalition.

Common Mistakes

The Union included Texas in the Civil War.
The Union did not include Texas
Texas was part of the Confederacy.' — the Union refers specifically to the states that did not secede.

4. the country known as the USA, seen as a single political unit of individual stat

4.nounB2
Definition

the country known as the USA, seen as a single political unit of individual states that share a federal government

Example

The President delivers a State of the Union address to Congress each year.

State of the Union = annual presidential speech

Hawaii became the fiftieth state to join the Union in 1959.

join the Union = become a US state

Common collocations
  • join the Union
  • State of the Union
  • admitted to the Union
  • the entire Union
Synonyms
  • the United States

    the full standard name; 'the Union' is a more historical or formal alternative

  • America

    common in informal speech; less precise than 'the Union'

Grammar Patterns

the Union

join the Union

State of the Union

Usage Note

In modern US political language, 'the Union' refers to the United States as a continuing political body. This differs from sense 3 (US CIVIL WAR), which refers specifically to the Civil War-era coalition. 'State of the Union' is a fixed expression for the president's annual address.

5. the country formed by Great Britain and Northern Ireland, governed as one sovere

5.nounB2
Definition

the country formed by Great Britain and Northern Ireland, governed as one sovereign state under a single parliament

Example

The Act of Union in 1707 created the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Act of Union = law joining England and Scotland

Roya teaches courses on the history of the Union at a university in Cardiff.

Common collocations
  • the Act of Union
  • the future of the Union
  • defend the Union
  • break up the Union
Synonyms
  • the United Kingdom

    the full formal name; 'the Union' is a shorter, more political reference

  • the UK

    the standard abbreviation; 'the Union' has a more political or historical tone

Grammar Patterns

the Union

Usage Note

In British political discussion, 'the Union' almost always refers to the United Kingdom. This usage is distinct from 'the European Union' (sense 6). The 'Act of Union' is a historical reference to the 1707 law that joined England and Scotland.

Common Mistakes

The Union includes France and Germany.
The Union refers to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. France and Germany are in the European Union.
do not confuse the UK Union with the European Union.

6. short for the European Union (EU), the political and economic organization of Eu

6.nounB2
Definition

short for the European Union (EU), the political and economic organization of European member countries that work together on shared policies including trade, law, and social issues

Example

The Union introduced new rules to limit single-use plastics across all member states.

the Union = the European Union

Citizens of the Union can live and work in any member country without a visa.

citizens of the Union = EU citizens

Common collocations
  • join the Union
  • leave the Union
  • Union member states
  • Union law
  • Union funding
Synonyms
  • the European Union

    the full formal name, appropriate for official contexts

  • the EU

    the standard abbreviation, very common in news and everyday writing

Grammar Patterns

the Union

the European Union

Usage Note

In news and political writing, 'the Union' alone often refers to the European Union when the context is European affairs. This is especially common in British and European media. The full formal name 'the European Union' is used in official documents and at first mention in a text.

Common Mistakes

Norway is a member of the Union.
Norway is not a member of the European Union, but it is part of the European Economic Area.
not all European countries belong to the EU.

7. an organization set up by employees within the same trade or workplace to defend

7.nounB1
Definition

an organization set up by employees within the same trade or workplace to defend their interests, negotiate better pay and conditions, and speak with a single voice when dealing with their employer.

Example

Tomás joined the union soon after starting work at the factory.

collocation: join a union

The union voted to strike after management refused to increase wages.

union + singular/plural verb

Common collocations
  • join a union
  • union member
  • union representative
  • union leader
  • union dues
  • union meeting
  • union vote
Synonyms
  • trade union

    the full British term, more formal than just union

  • labor union

    the standard American English term for the same type of organization

  • guild

    historically for craftspeople; now rarer and suggests a professional association rather than a bargaining body

Grammar Patterns

union + singular/plural verb

Usage Note

In British English this sense is often expressed as trade union; in American English labour union or labor union is more common. The word is frequently used with a singular verb (the union has decided) even when referring to a group of people.

Common Mistakes

I joined the union of students at my school.
I joined the student council at my school.
a union in this sense is specifically for workers, not for students or general groups.

8. the more widespread type of rugby in which two sides of fifteen players compete,

8.nounB2
Definition

the more widespread type of rugby in which two sides of fifteen players compete, commonly referred to simply as rugby to tell it apart from rugby league — a thirteen-a-side version with different rules.

Example

Dewi played rugby union for his university team for three seasons.

collocation: play rugby union

Rugby union matches last for eighty minutes with two halves of play.

Common collocations
  • play rugby union
  • a rugby union match
  • a rugby union team
  • rugby union player
Synonyms
  • rugby

    in everyday use, rugby usually means rugby union in most countries

  • fifteen-a-side rugby

    technical description emphasising the number of players

Antonyms
  • rugby league

    the other main form of rugby, with thirteen players per team and different rules

Usage Note

In many countries where rugby is popular, union alone refers to rugby union by default. The phrase rugby union is used specifically to contrast with rugby league, which has different rules and thirteen players per team.

9. the formal relationship of marriage, especially when spoken of with respect and

9.nounC1
Definition

the formal relationship of marriage, especially when spoken of with respect and as a lasting bond between two people.

Example

The priest blessed the union of Christopher and Adaeze in a small village church.

formal register

Daniel and Mateo celebrated their union with friends and family from both sides of the world.

Common collocations
  • blessed union
  • holy union
  • a union of two people
Synonyms
  • marriage

    the standard everyday word; union is more formal and literary

  • wedlock

    very formal or legal term, less common in modern use

Antonyms
  • divorce

    the legal ending of a marriage

  • separation

    a period when a married couple live apart

Usage Note

This sense is almost entirely restricted to formal contexts — wedding ceremonies, legal documents, and literary writing. In everyday conversation marriage is far more common.

Common Mistakes

We celebrated our tenth union anniversary.
We celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary.
use marriage or wedding in everyday contexts, not union.

union — adjective

Word family

Common collocations

Phrases

  • form a union — 組成聯盟/工會
  • join a union — 加入聯盟/工會
  • union member — 工會/聯盟成員
  • in union with — 與…聯合/共同
  • dissolve a union — 解散聯盟/工會
  • create a union — 創建聯盟/工會
  • union between A and B — A 與 B 之間的聯合
  • union of states — 各州的聯合體