Meaning & use
a student union
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
An organization at a college or university that represents students and organizes social activities.
Grammar: Often used with the definite article: the student union. Can refer to the group of elected officers.
Patterns
- the student union
- join the student union
- run for the student union
The student union is organizing a welcome party for new students.
She was elected president of the student union last year.
The student union campaigns for better library hours.
nouncountable
The building or area on a campus where students can meet, eat, and take part in social activities.
Grammar: Usually used with 'the' and often capitalized as Student Union when it is the name of a building.
Patterns
- at the student union
- in the student union
- go to the student union
Let's meet at the student union for coffee.
The student union has a food court and a game room.
There's a notice board in the student union with job listings.
Word forms
| plural | student unions |
|---|
Common combinations
- student union building
- The new student union building opened last September.
- student union election
- Voting in the student union election closes on Friday.
- student union fees
- Part of your tuition goes to student union fees.
- run for student union
- He decided to run for student union president.
Synonyms and how they differ
- students' union
- The same meaning, but with an apostrophe; common in British English.
- student government
- Used mainly in American English for the organization, not the building.
- student association
- A more formal term for a student organization, often in American English.
Word family
- student noun
- A person who is studying at a school, college, or university.
- union noun
- An organization of workers or other groups formed to protect their interests.
Commonly confused: a student union or trade union?
a student union vs trade union
A trade union is for workers, not students. A student union is for students at a college or university.
Practice
What is the main purpose of a student union?
Choose one answer.
A student union represents students and runs social events. Option 1 describes a university administration. Option 2 describes a trade union. Option 3 describes academic decisions made by faculty.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a student union”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.