antiunion
|an-ti-yu-ni-on|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈjuː.ni.ən/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈjuː.njən/
against unions
Etymology
'antiunion' originates from Modern English, composed of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and 'union' (from Old French 'union', ultimately from Latin 'unio' meaning 'unity' or 'oneness').
'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti' and entered English via Latin and French usage of the prefix; 'union' passed into English from Old French 'union' and Latin 'unio'. The compound 'antiunion' is a modern English formation combining these elements to mean 'against union'.
Initially the components meant 'against' and 'unity' respectively; when combined in modern English the compound has the specific political/labor meaning 'opposed to labor unions' with little semantic shift from the literal components.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
opposition to labor unions; actions, sentiment, or policies that work against union formation or activity.
There was widespread antiunion sentiment among the firm's management.
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Adjective 1
opposed to labor unions or to union organization; expressing or supporting policies that discourage union activity.
The company adopted antiunion policies to prevent employee organizing.
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Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/12 01:20