Definition

Noun: - A major federation of labor unions in the United States: The AFL-CIO is a national trade union center and the largest federation of unions in North America. It was formed by the merger of two organizations, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO).

Usage

The term "AFL-CIO" is used as a proper noun to refer specifically to this federation. It functions as a singular entity. - The AFL-CIO represents millions of workers across various industries. - Policies endorsed by the AFL-CIO often influence national labor discussions.

Advanced Usage

• Referring to its leadership or position: The name can be used metonymically to refer to the organization's leadership or its official stance.
  • The AFL-CIO has issued a statement supporting the new legislation.

Variants and Related Words

• AFL: Acronym for the American Federation of Labor, one of the founding organizations.
• CIO: Acronym for the Congress of Industrial Organizations, the other founding organization.
• Federation: A broader term for a group of organizations, especially unions, united under a central authority.

Synonyms

• Labor federation
• Trade union center
• Union umbrella organization

Notes on Meaning

This term refers exclusively to the specific historical organization formed in 1955. It is not a generic term for any labor group. The hyphen in "AFL-CIO" is a standard part of the name, connecting the two merged entities.

Noun

1. the largest federation of North American labor unions; formed in 1955