adj
Uncommon
confederate
kuhn-FEH-duh-ruht
Confederate (adj) means Joined together in an alliance; united for a common purpose. Example: “The confederate tribes shared defense responsibilities.”
adj
1
Joined together in an alliance; united for a common purpose.
"The confederate tribes shared defense responsibilities."
"The confederate cities agreed to protect each other against invaders."
"The two confederate groups held a joint meeting every year."
noun
1
An accomplice who helps someone, often in something secretive or illegal.
"The thief and his confederate split the stolen goods."
"Police believe he had a confederate waiting outside."
"The magician's confederate in the audience pretended to pick a card at random."
verb
1
To join together in an alliance or conspiracy.
"The smaller states confederated to strengthen their bargaining power."
"Several farming villages confederated to share the work of digging a new well."
"The students confederated to demand better food in the canteen."
How to use confederate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAllied or joined with others — as an adjective for groups working together, or as a noun for a partner in a plot.
Common pairings
a confederate of the gang
confederate states
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Word forms
- Plural
- confederates
- Third person singular
- confederates
- Past tense
- confederated
- Comparative
- more confederate
- Superlative
- most confederate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ tribes shared defense responsibilities.
Etymology
From Late Latin cōnfoederātus, "bound together by treaty" — from con- ("together") + foederāre ("to establish a league").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for confederate
See all rhymes for confederate →Frequently asked questions
What does “confederate” mean?
The word “confederate” means joined together in an alliance; united for a common purpose. In plain terms, allied or joined with others — as an adjective for groups working together, or as a noun for a partner in a plot.
How do you pronounce “confederate”?
“Confederate” is pronounced kuhn-FEH-duh-ruht (/kənˈfɛdəɹət/ in IPA).
How do you use “confederate” in a sentence?
Here is “confederate” used in a sentence: “The confederate tribes shared defense responsibilities.”
What part of speech is “confederate”?
Depending on how it is used, “confederate” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “confederate” come from?
The word “confederate” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin cōnfoederātus, "bound together by treaty" — from con- ("together") + foederāre ("to establish a league").
Is “confederate” a common word?
“Confederate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “confederate” have?
“Confederate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: joined together in an alliance; united for a common purpose.
What is the difference between a confederate and an accomplice?
A confederate is an accomplice who helps someone, often in something secretive or illegal, and the two words are closely related. Confederate can carry a slightly more formal or conspiratorial tone, often implying an ongoing alliance rather than a one-time act.
How is confederate used as an adjective?
As an adjective, confederate describes states or groups joined together in an alliance, united for a common purpose, as in "confederate states" or "confederate forces."
Can confederate be used as a verb?
Yes, as a verb, confederate means to join together in an alliance or conspiracy, describing the act of forming such a partnership rather than the resulting group or person.
