Solidarity
noun /ˌsɒlɪˈdærɪti/ — Unity built on shared interests, goals, or identity.
Definition
Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
Beyond the definition
Solidarity is the thing that makes a group more than a collection of individuals. It is what a union feels like when it holds, what a community feels like at its best, what a friendship feels like when tested. The word has political connotations but its deeper meaning is simply: the awareness that your fate is linked with others, and that you choose to act accordingly.
Origin & history
From French solidarite, from solidaire (jointly liable), from Latin solidum (the whole). The financial and legal metaphor: mutual obligation as the foundation of community.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The strikers held the line for six weeks through a solidarity that surprised even themselves.
International solidarity requires imagining the lives of people very different from yourself.
There was a spontaneous solidarity in the aftermath of the disaster — ordinary hierarchies dissolved.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Solidarity” when the meaning fits your context: Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
Synonyms
unity, cohesion, mutual support, fellowship
Antonyms
division, atomization, individualism
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Illustrative example
Flying in V-Formation
Canada geese fly together in a coordinated V-shaped formation against a wide, expansive blue sky.
The flock of geese represents solidarity through unity of action. By flying together in a V-formation, they provide mutual support and agreement in their efforts, highlighting the power of a collective movement toward a common interest.
Image credit: John Benson · CC BY 2.0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; full composition retained.
Questions about this word
What does "Solidarity" mean?
Solidarity is noun meaning: Unity built on shared interests, goals, or identity.. Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
Where does the word "Solidarity" come from?
From French solidarite, from solidaire (jointly liable), from Latin solidum (the whole). The financial and legal metaphor: mutual obligation as the foundation of community.