Definition

Proper noun: - Samuel Gompers: A prominent historical figure, specifically a United States labor leader (born in England) who served as the founding and long-time president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) from 1886 to 1924 (1850-1924). He is a key figure in the history of the American labor movement.

Usage

• Samuel Gompers is used exclusively as a proper noun to refer to the individual person. It is typically used in historical, biographical, and labor relations contexts.
• Example:
• Example:

Advanced Usage

• The name can be used metonymically to represent the philosophies and strategies of the early American Federation of Labor, such as "pure and simple unionism" which emphasized collective bargaining for wages, hours, and conditions, rather than broad political reform.
  • Example: The approach was pure Gompers, focusing on immediate bread-and-butter issues.

Variants and Related Words

• Gompersian (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Samuel Gompers or his policies. (This is a specialized, rarely used derivative).
  • Example: The union's Gompersian stance avoided direct political party affiliation.

Synonyms

• Labor leader: A general term for which Samuel Gompers is a specific, iconic example.
• Trade unionist: A person who supports or is a member of a trade union.

Related Phrases and Contexts

• American Federation of Labor (AFL): The organization Samuel Gompers led and helped found.
• "More, now!": A phrase often associated with Gompers, summarizing his pragmatic goal for unions: to secure more favorable conditions for workers in the present.

Noun

1. United States labor leader (born in England) who was president of the American Federation of Labor from 1886 to 1924 (1850-1924)