noun
Common
federation
feh-duh-RAY-shuhn
Federation (noun) means a group of states, organizations, or groups joined together under one central governing body while keeping some independence. Example: “The federation of trade unions coordinated the nationwide strike.”
noun
1
A group of states, organizations, or groups joined together under one central governing body while keeping some independence.
"The federation of trade unions coordinated the nationwide strike."
"Australia became a federation of its colonies in 1901."
"The football federation announced new rules for youth teams across all its member clubs."
How to use federation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA union of separate groups or states that combine under one overall authority.
Common pairings
a federation of states
sports federation
trade federation
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Word forms
- Plural
- federations
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The _____ of trade unions coordinated the nationwide strike.
Etymology
From French fédération, ultimately from Latin foederare, "to join by treaty," related to federal.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for federation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for federation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “federation” mean?
The word “federation” means a group of states, organizations, or groups joined together under one central governing body while keeping some independence. In plain terms, a union of separate groups or states that combine under one overall authority.
How do you pronounce “federation”?
“Federation” is pronounced feh-duh-RAY-shuhn (/ˌfɛdəˈɹeɪ̯ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “federation” in a sentence?
Here is “federation” used in a sentence: “The federation of trade unions coordinated the nationwide strike.”
What part of speech is “federation”?
“Federation” is a noun.
Where does the word “federation” come from?
The word “federation” comes from Latin. From French fédération, ultimately from Latin foederare, "to join by treaty," related to federal.
Is “federation” a common word?
“Federation” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a federation and a confederation?
A federation is a union in which member states share power with a strong central government that has authority over them, while a confederation is a looser alliance where members keep most of their sovereignty and the central body has limited power. In a federation the central government can usually act directly on citizens, whereas in a confederation it tends to act only through the member states.
When should you use "federation" instead of "union"?
Use "federation" when you want to stress that the joined states or groups keep some independence while operating under one central governing body. "Union" is broader and can describe any joining together, including looser alliances or fully merged arrangements.
What is the difference between a federation and a nation?
A federation is a way of organizing government in which separate states or regions join under a central body while keeping some independence, whereas a nation refers broadly to a people or country united by identity, culture, or territory. A federation is one possible structure for governing a nation.
What are common collocations with "federation"?
Common collocations include "federation of states," "sports federation," "world federation," and "federation of trade unions." The word frequently names organizations that unite smaller member groups under one umbrella body.
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