Meaning & use
student union
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A building on a college campus where students can eat, meet, and take part in social activities.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a student union' or 'the student union' when referring to a particular one.
Patterns
- at the student union
- in the student union
Let's meet at the student union for lunch.
The student union has a café, a bookstore, and a game room.
She works part-time at the student union.
nouncountable
An organization that represents students and provides services and activities at a college or university.
Grammar: Often used with 'the', e.g., 'the student union organizes events'.
Patterns
- join the student union
- the student union organizes something
The student union is organizing a welcome party for new students.
He was elected president of the student union.
The student union offers free legal advice to students.
Word forms
| plural | student unions |
|---|
Common combinations
- student union building
- The student union building is in the center of campus.
- student union elections
- Student union elections are held every spring.
- student union president
- She was elected student union president.
- student union meeting
- There is a student union meeting this afternoon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- student government
- In American English, this usually refers only to the organization, not the building.
- student association
- Similar to the organization sense, but often used for groups in specific fields.
Commonly confused: student union or trade union?
student union vs trade union
A trade union is for workers, not students; it aims to improve pay and working conditions.
Practice
Where can I find the student union? I need to buy a book.
Choose one answer.
The student union as a building has shops and cafés, so it fits buying a book. The organization sense (option 0) doesn't fit 'buy a book'. Option 2 confuses with trade union, and option 3 is wrong because student unions are for students.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “student union”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.