solidarity
/ˌsɒl.ɪˈdæɹ.ə.ti/
solidarity means A political movement begun in the labor unions of Poland that contributed to the fall of Communism in that country. It carries an Arena rating of 1585, earned across 10 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, solidarity ranks #762 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,059 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #1,628 of 17,128 for Most Ponderous Words, #4,092 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
solidarity is pronounced /ˌsɒl.ɪˈdæɹ.ə.ti/.
Why “solidarity” is a great word
The unity and mutual support that arises from a shared commitment to a common interest, responsibility, or struggle. From French solidarité ("solidarity"), from solidaire ("characterized by solidarity"), from Latin solidum ("whole sum"), neuter of solidus ("solid"). First attested in English in 1829. Unlike "sympathy" (a feeling for another from a distance) or "unity" (a simple state of oneness), solidarity is the conscious, active, and reciprocal making of a collective body. It is the dockworker refusing to unload scab cargo, the neighbors passing buckets hand-to-hand to save a burning house, and the silent presence of bodies standing shoulder to shoulder outside a courthouse at midnight; it is the deliberate choice to make another's cause your own, transforming a collection of individuals into a single, solid weight.
Etymology
By surface analysis, from English solidary + -ity, or from French solidarité (“solidarity”), from solidaire (“characterized by solidarity”), from Latin solidum (“whole sum”), neuter of solidus (“solid”).
name
- A political movement begun in the labor unions of Poland that contributed to the fall of Communism in that country.
noun
- A bond of unity or agreement between individuals, united around a common goal or against a common enemy, such as the unifying principle that defines the labor movement; mutual support within a group.e.g.“A long time union member himself, Phil showed solidarity with the picketing grocery store workers by shopping at a competing, unionized store.”
- Willingness to support another person in a difficult position or needs affection.e.g.“Only the solidarity provided by her siblings allowed Margaret to cope with her mother's harrowing death.”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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