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."
"The tribes formed a loose confederation to defend their shared borders while governing themselves."
How to use confederation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA loose alliance of states that cooperate but stay mostly independent.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a confederation of states
form a confederation
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Word forms
- Plural
- confederations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ allowed each member country to keep its own laws.
Etymology
From Middle French confédération, from Latin cōnfoederātiō — a doublet of "confederacy."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for confederation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for confederation →
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.
