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noun Uncommon

confederation

kuhn-feh-duh-RAY-shuhn

Confederation (noun) means a union of states or organizations that keep their own independence while cooperating on shared matters. Example: “The confederation allowed each member country to keep its own laws.”

noun
1
A union of states or organizations that keep their own independence while cooperating on shared matters.
"The confederation allowed each member country to keep its own laws."
"Switzerland is officially known as a confederation."

How to Use Confederation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA loose alliance of states that cooperate but stay mostly independent.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a confederation of states form a confederation

Word Forms

confederations plural

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Fill the Gap

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The _____ allowed each member country to keep its own laws.

Etymology

From Middle French confédération, from Latin cōnfoederātiō — a doublet of "confederacy."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for confederation

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “confederation” mean?

The word “confederation” means a union of states or organizations that keep their own independence while cooperating on shared matters. In plain terms, a loose alliance of states that cooperate but stay mostly independent.

How do you pronounce “confederation”?

“Confederation” is pronounced kuhn-feh-duh-RAY-shuhn (/kənfɛdəˈɹeɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “confederation” in a sentence?

Here is “confederation” used in a sentence: “The confederation allowed each member country to keep its own laws.”

What part of speech is “confederation”?

“Confederation” is a noun.

Where does the word “confederation” come from?

The word “confederation” comes from Latin. From Middle French confédération, from Latin cōnfoederātiō — a doublet of "confederacy.".

Is “confederation” a common word?

“Confederation” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial