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Rand formula

(Canada, legal) The principle, widely recognized in Canadian law and in collective agreements, that all employees of a unionized workplace must pay dues to the labor union, whether they choose to be m

ˈɹænd ˈfɔɹmjələDocumented since 1880sSilenthistorical91 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1884 · no dated citations yet
1884BornToday, 2026

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#1·Apr 27, 2026

(Canada, legal) The principle, widely recognized in Canadian law and in collective agreements, that all employees of a unionized workplace must pay dues to the labor union, whether they choose to be members of the union or not.

Origin: From Supreme Court of Canada Justice Ivan C. Rand (1884–1969), who developed the formula in 1946. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"Rand formula" means: The principle, widely recognized in Canadian law and in collective agreements, that all employees of a unionized workplace must pay dues to.... This is technical or formal vocabulary, more likely to appear in school work, news or a particular profession than in peer chat. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your child uses the term, it is usually a sign of curiosity about a subject area. A short follow-up question about where they came across it is usually all that is needed.

For ESL learners

"Rand formula" means: The principle, widely recognized in Canadian law and in collective agreements, that all employees of a unionized workplace must pay dues to.... Register: formal or technical English, standard in its specialist domain (law, medicine, science, finance, etc.). Gloss the term with a plain synonym when writing for a general audience. Note the regional or dialect label (Canadian) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive

Cluster: work
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For specific readers

"Rand formula" means: The principle, widely recognized in Canadian law and in collective agreements, that all employees of a unionized workplace must pay dues to.... This is technical or formal vocabulary, more likely to appear in school work, news or a particular profession than in peer chat. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your child uses the term, it is usually a sign of curiosity about a subject area. A short follow-up question about where they came across it is usually all that is needed.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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