pro-unionist
|pro-u-ni-on-ist|
🇺🇸
/ˌproʊˈjuːniənɪst/
🇬🇧
/prəʊˈjuːnɪənɪst/
for the union
Etymology
'pro-unionist' is a compound formed from the prefix 'pro-' (from Latin 'pro', meaning 'for' or 'forward') and 'unionist' (someone who supports a union).
'unionist' derives from 'union' + the agent suffix '-ist'; 'union' passed into English from Old French 'union' (from Latin 'unio', from 'unus' meaning 'one'). The compound 'pro-unionist' is a modern English formation combining 'pro-' with 'unionist'.
The elements originally conveyed 'for' (pro-) and 'one/union' (union); over time the compound came to mean generally 'in favor of a union'—either organized labor unions or political/state unions—depending on context.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who supports labor unions or the activities of trade unions (supports organized labor).
She is a pro-unionist who often speaks at rallies for better workplace conditions.
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Noun 2
a person who favors political union (e.g., supports keeping a territory united with another state); often used in contexts like Northern Ireland to mean someone who supports remaining united with the United Kingdom.
In the election the pro-unionist candidates campaigned to keep the region within the existing state union.
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Last updated: 2025/11/01 21:58