[f. UNION sb.1 + -ISM.] The principle or policy of union; combination in union as a system of social organization; advocacy of this. Cf. TRADE(S)-UNIONISM.
1845. Miall, in Nonconf., V. 173. The gravest objections against congregational unionism.
1869. J. Stirling, Trade Unionism, 21. To the unionist himself, the results of Unionism are no less hurtful.
1884. Brit. Alm. & Comp., 67. The growth of unionism among farm labourers.
b. U.S. Advocacy of, attachment or adherence to, a legislative union between states.
1864. Lowell, McClellan or Lincoln? Pr. Wks. 1890, V. 157. The somewhat light Unionism of Mr. Pendleton. Ibid. (1865), Reconstruct., Ibid., 222. We do not mean to say that there is any very large amount of even latent Unionism at the South.
1883. American, VI. 92. The obstinate Unionism of the mountaineer farmers.
c. Loyalty to or advocacy of the principles, views, or programme of the Unionist party of Great Britain and Ireland; the political tenets characteristic of a Unionist.
1886. Sat. Rev., 5 June, 763/2. Unionism has to deal with an enemy perfectly unscrupulous.
1889. Mrs. Buxton, in O’Brien, Life Parnell (1898), I. 220. We talked a little about Home Rule and the future of Ireland—my Unionism getting very shaky.
