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solidarity

sol-ih-DAR-ih-tee /ˌsɒl.ɪˈdær.ə.ti/

nounC1GRESATTOEFLIELTSUPSC

formalacademic

Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.

Implies a deep, conscious commitment to stand together, often in the face of an external threat, injustice, or shared challenge.

The story behind the word. Solidarity was coined in French as 'solidarité' during the Enlightenment, drawing from the Latin 'solidus', meaning 'whole' or 'solid'. The idea was to describe a group of people who are so tightly bound together that they act as a single, solid block. It gained worldwide fame through the Polish trade union 'Solidarność' in the 1980s.

Word relationships

unity: Unity is the state of being joined as a whole, while solidarity is the active feeling of mutual support and shared responsibility within that whole.
cohesion: Cohesion is a sociological term for how well a group sticks together physically or structurally, whereas solidarity is the emotional and moral commitment to do so.

division: Division is the state of being split into hostile or disagreeing factions, destroying solidarity.
discord: Discord is active disagreement and lack of harmony among people.

Commonly confused with

solitude: Solitude is the state of being alone, whereas solidarity is the state of being deeply united with others.

Word family

solidarize (verb): To bring into solidarity or act in union with.

Collocations

show solidarity
express solidarity
community solidarity

Example sentences

"The neighborhood showed incredible solidarity by organizing a community kitchen after the devastating flood." Community response to crisis
"We must express our solidarity with the workers who are striking for fair wages." Political speech

Memory hook

Think of a 'solid' block of concrete. When people stand in 'solidarity', they are as strong and united as a solid wall. Solidarity makes us solid.

When not to use

Do not use for simple, casual agreement or polite cooperation; solidarity is a powerful, active, and unified bond.

Fun facts

The Polish trade union 'Solidarność' (Solidarity), founded in 1980, was the first independent labor union in a Soviet-bloc country and ultimately played a central role in ending communist rule in Poland.