anti-union
UK[ˌæntiˈjuːniən]US[ˌæntiˈjuːnjən, ˌæntaɪˈjuːnjən]
adj
Opposed to or acting against labor unions or their activities.
Morpheme Breakdown
anti
union
anti
against
union
association
Etymology
The word 'anti-union' is a modern English compound formed by directly combining the classical prefix 'anti-' with the noun 'union'. The prefix 'anti-' originates from the Ancient Greek preposition 'antí', meaning 'against' or 'opposite'. The core noun 'union' traces back to the Latin 'ūnus', meaning 'one', which evolved into 'unio' signifying a single pearl or, figuratively, a state of oneness. Therefore, the literal construction 'against-oneness' logically evolved to describe a stance or policy specifically opposed to the unified collective action embodied by labor unions.
Analysis
Structure: anti (against) + union (association)
- anti: From Greek, via Latin and French. A prefix meaning 'against', 'opposite of', or 'rivaling'.
- union: From Latin unio (oneness, unity), via Old French. A noun-forming element meaning 'the act or state of being united'.
Examples
The company was accused of adopting anti-union tactics to discourage organizing efforts.
He held strong anti-union views, believing they hindered economic flexibility.
The new legislation was criticized as being fundamentally anti-union.